An Odd Cast of Characters Throughout History

From popes who saved Jewish refugees to those who made literal corpses stand trial, there’s no shortage of memorable men who held the title. Join us as we discuss some notable figures history will never forget—for better or for worse.  

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1. Pope Leo I 

It’s not every day a pope stops an invasion. It’s also not every day you’re hailed as “undoubtedly one of the most important in the Church's history.” But Pope Leo managed both between 440 and 461. At the time, Attila ruled the Huns and planned on raiding Italy in 452—but Leo met with him and, it’s said, was able to talk him out of an invasion through mere conversation. He’s also well-known for the Tome of Leo, a document written in 451 that acknowledges Christ has both human and divine natures. 

Francisco Herrera the Younger on Wikimedia

2. Pope Gregory I

When you’re commonly known as Saint Gregory the Great, you know you’ve accomplished some serious things. He’s mainly recognized for the Gregorian Mission, one of the first Catholic missions that successfully converted nearly all of southern Britain to Christianity by 653. He was canonized immediately after his passing in 604. 

British Library on Wikimedia

3. Pope Leo XIII

If you really want to talk about a man of the people, look no further than Pope Leo XIII. In 1891, he published Rerum novarum (translated to “of revolutionary change”), a remarkable encyclical that not only condemned capitalism but also fought for workers’ safety and fair wages. To top it all off, he was a beloved scholar who opened the Vatican Archives to future researchers. 

Braun et Compagnie on Wikimedia

4. Pope Benedict XV

Elected to the papacy during WWI, Pope Benedict XV tried his hardest to mitigate tension. He declared the neutrality of the Holy See (though both the Germans and the French denied his efforts), and spent much of his time reuniting prisoners of war with their loved ones. He also worked to feed starving children and was later remembered as the “Pope of Peace.”

Nicola Perscheid on Wikimedia

5. Pope Innocent XII

Pope Innocent XII was a man of the people—and his accomplishments weren’t forgotten during his role. Not only did he vehemently disagree with nepotism in the church, he issued a papal bull strictly forbidding it; his declaration ended any distribution of funds or land to relatives. He also went out of his way to feed starving children and even opened the Lateran to unemployed individuals. 

Antonio Zanchi on Wikimedia

6. Pope Leo III

Who would have thought that a pope and a famous leader would scratch each other’s backs? Pope Leo III befriended Emperor Charlemagne after being attacked in 799 by his predecessor’s supporters. After the assault, he was brought to Charlemagne’s court to recover before being sent back to Rome, where he then faced a slew of charges. Charlemagne himself traveled to Rome to clear Leo’s name, to which a grateful Leo then crowned him Holy Roman Emperor in 800. The Holy Roman Empire may have had its problems, but having a hand in its creation is nothing short of memorable. 

Restoration: Ferdinando Fuga (1743) on Wikimedia

7. Pope Benedict XIV 

To call Pope Benedict XIV a scholar is an understatement. An accomplished polymath, this influential figure sought to promote science, art, theology, and the human body; he opened four academies during his pontificate and even frequently taught there. He’s often remembered for his unwavering morals and brilliant mind, and for creating the Sacred and Profane Museums.

Pierre Subleyras on Wikimedia

8. Pope John XXIII

Pope John XXII was a notable figure during WWII, particularly in aiding Jewish refugees from the Nazis. Among his accomplishments were freeing children from Slovakia and rescuing Jewish prisoners from the Sereď concentration camp. He was canonized in 2014 alongside Pope John II and is known today as “the Good Pope.”

De Agostini Editore on Wikimedia

9. Pope John Paul II

Speaking of John Paul II, this list just wouldn’t be complete without mentioning some of his accomplishments. Not only did he help bring down communism in 1989, he canonized over 400 saints, traveled to over one hundred countries, and made several historic apologies during his pontificate. He also aimed to help young people, and in 1985, initiated World Youth Day.

Beyond Forgetting on Wikimedia

10. Pope Francis

Gone but not soon forgotten, Pope Francis took great strides to denounce consumerism, welcome more communities into the church, and fight against climate change. In 2022, he also issued the first apology by the Vatican for its atrocities against First Nations children and was widely considered a more liberal, modern pope. 

Korea.net / Korean Culture and Information Service (Jeon Han) on Wikimedia

That’s not to say that every pope boasts impressive achievements or kind words. Let’s dive into a few history remembers for entirely different reasons. 

1. Pope Benedict IX

It’s never good when a pope is known as “a demon from hell.” But future saints didn’t know what else to call him—a young tyrant of only 20 who entered the papacy thanks to his predecessor (and uncle). That nepotism didn’t score any brownie points with the public, but they also had a heck of a time getting rid of him; Benedict would serve as pope three times before finally being chased away for good in 1048. To make matters worse, he was accused of everything from selling the papacy, assault, and indecent acts with animals. 

ignote Italian author from 19th century on Wikimedia

2. Pope Stephen VI

Don’t assume death will keep you out of the courtroom. The only thing you need to know about Stephen is that he once exhumed the corpse of Pope Formosus and made it stand trial in 897. The body was found guilty, had its blessing fingers removed, was rewrapped in plainclothes, and quickly tossed into the Tiber. The whole thing was for naught as Stephen was soon thrown in prison before being strangled. 

Jean-Paul Laurens on Wikimedia

3.  Pope Alexander VI

You would think bribing your way into the papacy is enough scandal for one pope, but Alexander took it a step further. Considered one of the most controversial Renaissance popes, he openly admitted to fathering multiple children with a mistress. He also appointed family members to positions of power. 

Attributed to Pedro Berruguete on Wikimedia

4. Pope Urban VI

A hot-headed pope whose election spearheaded the Western Schism—how else could we summarize Urban? Initially, two (and eventually three) popes competed for the title in 1378, but not before Urban snuffed out competing cardinals and spent a fortune funding the War of the Eight Saints. 

Lewis Sergeant on Wikimedia

5. Pope Sixtus IV

Sixtus is a tricky one. On the one hand, he commissioned the Sistine Chapel, brought Renaissance masterpieces to Rome, and created the Vatican Library. On the other hand, he helped establish the Spanish Inquisition, was notorious for nepotism, and allegedly had an illegitimate child with his own sister. He also planned to remove the Medici family from power in Florence. So, all in all, not great.

Titian / After Melozzo da Forlì on Wikimedia

6. Pope Sergius III

Remember Stephen and his cadaver? Well, Sergius was Stephen’s pal during that whole debacle, so we’re already on shaky ground. In addition to his questionable morals, he frequently promoted family members to positions of power and fathered an illegitimate son. Perhaps worst of all, he’s also rumored to have snuffed out his two immediate predecessors. 

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7. Pope Boniface VIII

You’ve done bad things when Dante sticks you in the eighth circle of hell. It makes sense when you think about it, especially after Boniface’s 1302 papal bull, Unam sanctam. The statement basically said that “every human creature be subject to the Roman pontiff,” which didn’t fly with King Philip IV. Philip soon ordered that Boniface be captured, which he was, and then passed away a month later. 

Giotto on Wikimedia

8. Pope Paul IV

Rightfully known as the worst pope of the 16th century, Paul is mostly remembered for two things: censorship and anti-Semitism. Under his rule, he ordered that the Sistine Chapel’s artwork be repainted for modesty, banned all books written by Protestants, and in 1555, issued a papal bull that banned Jewish citizens to a Roman ghetto. They were sequestered from the main city, made to wear yellow hats, subjected to violence, and even forced to pay for any construction done to the ghetto. 

Manner of Jacopino del Conte on Wikimedia

9. Pope Julius II

There’s good and bad with this guy. Before becoming pope, he was known for his awful temper and for treating his servants like dirt. During his pontificate, however, he was a patron of the arts. He created the Vatican Museums, called for the reconstruction of St. Peter’s Basilica, and was also Michelangelo’s patron—Julius even commissioned the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling. 

Raphael on Wikimedia

10. Pope John XII

When you’re the pope at just 18 years old, it’s hard to say what you’ll do. However, if testimony is to be believed, we know that John XII did a number of heinous acts. He slept with widows. He drank and gambled. He lay with his niece. He ran the Papal Palace like a brothel. There was really no shortage to what he wouldn’t do (though historians claim the accusations were exaggerated). In any case, he passed at just 27 years old. 

Unknown author on Wikimedia