Who were the ten most important Popes in your opinion?

[SemperFidelis]

I’m sorry, but I just cannot consider John Paul II and Paul VI to be 2 of the 10 greatest popes in history. Seriously. The late pontiff was a man close to my heart, but I, in all honesty, could not say he was one of the best popes in history. And Paul VI? Seriously? Goodness.

I very much agree. I think they both did some very good things during their Papacies (Paul VI - Humanae Vitae, John Paul II - standing up for the Traditional stance regarding women’s ordination, helping to foster quality vocations, etc.), but I also think they had some bad aspects of their Papacies (Novus Ordo, Assisi prayer meetings, false ecumenism). The state of the Church reflects directly on the Papacy. There was far too much dissent and confusion of Catholic teachings, during the times of Paul VI and John Paul II, to allow me to call them Great Popes. They both had good aspects and bad aspects, but I just can’t come to think that they’re in the same league with a Pius IX, Pius X, Pius V, Leo XIII, Gregory XVI, Pius XI, or Pius XII

 

[rocksolid56]

This is an absurd question as all who made it to the holy see of Rome are all equally important from Peter to our current Pope Benedict xvi.To label them as better or worse than each-other does not seem right.

 

[humblemarian]

This is an absurd question as all who made it to the holy see of Rome are all equally important from Peter to our current Pope Benedict xvi.To label them as better or worse than each-other does not seem right.

It’s not an absurd question. The office has surely been equally great with each pope, but the effort to protect the office, and do the duties which the office requires, has not been equally great with each pope. There have been evil men ascend to the papacy through wicked means, such as bribing (even though the Holy Spirit did choose them). Some popes have allowed corruption to run rampart through the Church! Not all popes become saints.

 

[JuanCarlos]

I very much agree. I think they both did some very good things during their Papacies (Paul VI - Humanae Vitae, John Paul II - standing up for the Traditional stance regarding women’s ordination, helping to foster quality vocations, etc.), but I also think they had some bad aspects of their Papacies (Novus Ordo, Assisi prayer meetings, false ecumenism). The state of the Church reflects directly on the Papacy. There was far too much dissent and confusion of Catholic teachings, during the times of Paul VI and John Paul II, to allow me to call them Great Popes. They both had good aspects and bad aspects, but I just can’t come to think that they’re in the same league with a Pius IX, Pius X, Pius V, Leo XIII, Gregory XVI, Pius XI, or Pius XII

I agree. But although they definitely weren’t “great”, their papacies were, unarguably, very historically significant.

 

[bones_IV]

I agree. But although they definitely weren’t “great”, their papacies were, unarguably, very historically significant.

I think John Paul II did what he could. There’s always going to be a few people who won’t be satisfied. However with that said, I think that Vatican II could end up being another Lateran Council V if things keep going the way they are going.

 

[Seamus_L]

Blessed Urban II definitely deserves a mention.

 

[Caesar]

St. Peter
St. Gregory the Great
Leo the Great
St. Pius V
Bl. Pius IX
St. Pius X
Leo XIII
Pius XII

This is an absurd question as all who made it to the holy see of Rome are all equally important from Peter to our current Pope Benedict xvi.To label them as better or worse than each-other does not seem right.

Well, some were certainly worse then others. I mean, how can you compare such popes as Pius IX or Pius X or Gregory the Great with Alexander VI or Leo X or Paul VI?

 

[Formosus]

St. Peter - obvious why
St. Gregory the Great - obvious why
St. Clement - wrote important epistles emphasising the role of the papacy all the way back to Apostolic times.
St. Leo the Great - Saved Rome from Attilla and gained protection for christian sites during the vandals sack of Rome.
Innocent III - One of the strong Popes of the High Middle ages, approved of the Franciscans and Dominicans ( I think)
St. Pius V - Finished the council of trent, counter reformation
St. Pius X - Fought modernism , reformed Church music, younger age for first communion
Bl. Pius IX - First Vatican Council, Immaculate conception
Leo XIII - Really the first Pope to write on social issues, Rerum Novarum is a key part of Catholic social teaching.
Pius XII - Provided a good response during WWII, saved more jews then anyone else. Prophetic concerning litrugical revolution that was about to come after his pontificate…

is my list.

 

[Malcolm_McLean]

I’m sorry, but I just cannot consider John Paul II and Paul VI to be 2 of the 10 greatest popes in history. Seriously. The late pontiff was a man close to my heart, but I, in all honesty, could not say he was one of the best popes in history. And Paul VI? Seriously? Goodness.

It’s harder to see the more recent Popes in perspective.

For instance Hitler’s legacy is still contested, and there is something of a movement to rehabilitate him. Until that plays out, which might be in quite a long time, Pius XII will also be contested.

JPII was an extremely long-serving Pope. However did he do anything “great”? What part exactly did he play in the destruction of the Soviet Union?

 

[Volodymyr_988]

Just because they didn’t do anything “great” (however one defines it) doesn’t mean that they didn’t do anything important.

Paul VI, although many hate him, was an extremely important Pope, for three reasons: he promulgated the Novus Ordo, closed Vatican II, and wrote Humanae Vitae.

 

[hamburglar]

Just because they didn’t do anything “great” (however one defines it) doesn’t mean that they didn’t do anything important.

Paul VI, although many hate him, was an extremely important Pope, for three reasons: he promulgated the Novus Ordo, closed Vatican II, and wrote Humanae Vitae.

That’s actually a really good point. Important is not necessarily the same as great.

No matter what anyone’s thoughts are on the Novus Ordo and if it is good or not, I think it would be hard to deny that the promulgation of the Novus Ordo was not important. It is definitely a significant event in Church history.

 

[Dempsey1919]

I think Pope Benedict XVI will be regarded as a great Pope if he continues doing what he’s doing at the moment. I think he is the greatest Pope that the Church has had since Bl. John XXIII.

In such a short time, he has done a great deal. I pray that his Papacy is long.