List of Popes in the 21st Century, Know About Them

The pope is a spiritual leader of the Catholic Church. Catholic believe he is the successor of Saint Peter, who was one of Jesus' closest followers and the first bishop of Rome. Check the complete list of the popes who led the Catholic Church in the 21st century.

Akansha Arora Last updated on May 17th, 2025 02:05 pm

The Pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Church and a spiritual leader for millions of people around the world. In the 21st century, the Church has had three Popes, each with their own unique role and message. These popes have guided the Church through modern times, teaching about peace, love and faith. Let’s learn more about them in this article.

Who is Pope?

The pope is a spiritual leader of the Catholic Church. Catholic believe he is the successor of Saint Peter, who was one of Jesus’ closest followers and the first bishop of Rome. The pope guides people in faith, morals and church leadership. He also meets world leaders and other bishops to help lead the Church.

List of Popes in the 21st Century

The list below shows the popes who led the Catholic Church in the 21st century, with important detail about their time and contributions.

Pontiff Number	Pontification Dates	Name	Personal Name	Age at Start/ End	Motto
265	19 April 2005 – 28 February 2013	Benedict XVI/ BENEDICTVS Sextus Decimus	Joseph Alois Ratzinger	78/ 85	Cooperators of the truth
266	13 March 2013 – 21 April 2025	Francis/ FRANCISCVS	Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J.	76/88	By having mercy and by choosing
267	08 May 2025 – Present	Leo XIV/LEO Quartus Decimus	Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A.	69/ –	In the one, (we are) one

Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI became pope in April 2005. He was the first German pope in many centuries. He liked Latin and brought back some older church traditions. He also allowed special groups like former Anglicans to join the Church. In 2013, he did something very rare – he resigned from the papacy. After that, he was called Pope Emeritus.

Pope Francis

Pope Francis became pope in March 2013. He was the first pope from South America and the first Jesuit pope. He chose the name Francis to show he cared about the poor and the environment. He wrote a famous letter about protecting nature called Laudato si’. He also worked to bring peace between the USA and Cuba. He was the first pope to hold a Mass on the Arabian Peninsula.

Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV became pope in May 2025. He is the first pope from the United States and from North America. He also belongs to the Augustinian religious group. His motto shows a message of unity – being one together in faith.