Who is the Greatest Pope of All Time?
As a fan of papal history, I have put together a list of the greatest popes of all time in my humble opinion:
Honorable mention: Bl. John XXIII (1958-63), Pius XI (1922-39) , Leo XIII (1878-1903), Bl. Innocent XI (1676-89), Bl. Gregory X (1271-76), , St. Leo IX (1049-54), St. Nicholas I (858-67), St. Damasus I (366-83), St. Clement I (88-97)
The Greatest
St. Leo I (440-61)
Doctor of Doctrine; fought the heresies of Pelagianism, Manichæism, Priscillianism, and Monophysitism; defined the two natures of Christ in his famous Tome; turned back Attila the Hun and interceded successfully with the Vandals on behalf of the Romans
Other outstanding popes (in chronological order):
St. Peter (32-67)
The first pope; instrumental in establishing the early Church and spreading the Gospel
The first pope; instrumental in establishing the early Church and spreading the Gospel
St. Gregory I (590-604)
Doctor of Hymnology; pastoral rule and liturgical reforms have influenced the Church for centuries
St. Gregory VII (1073-85)
Purified Church through reformation of clergy when the Church had been flooded with immorality
Purified Church through reformation of clergy when the Church had been flooded with immorality
Innocent III (1198-1216)
Battled Albigensian heresy; summoned and presided over Fourth Lateran Council; asserted the rights of the Church and Papacy
St. Pius V (1566-72)
Implemented the Tridentine reforms and directives; stood firm against the many heresies of his day which emerged from the "Reformation"; public call for prayer of the Rosary resulted in the defeat of the Turks at Lepanto
Bl. Pius IX (1846-78)
Defined Immaculate Conception; summoned and presided over the First Vatican Council; battled the errors of Liberalism
St. Pius X (1903-14)
Battled the errors of Modernism; increased Eucharistic devotion
Pius XII (1939-58)
Defined the Glorious Assumption of Mary; saved hundreds of thousands of Jews and others during Nazi persecution
Defined the Glorious Assumption of Mary; saved hundreds of thousands of Jews and others during Nazi persecution
John Paul II (1978-2005)
The face of Catholicism in post-modern world; reinvigorated the Catholic youth; preached around the world; defended and developed Catholic doctrine on life issues, human rights, and human sexuality
The face of Catholicism in post-modern world; reinvigorated the Catholic youth; preached around the world; defended and developed Catholic doctrine on life issues, human rights, and human sexuality
Honorable mention: Bl. John XXIII (1958-63), Pius XI (1922-39) , Leo XIII (1878-1903), Bl. Innocent XI (1676-89), Bl. Gregory X (1271-76), , St. Leo IX (1049-54), St. Nicholas I (858-67), St. Damasus I (366-83), St. Clement I (88-97)
posted by Sebastian at 7:38 PM
2 Comments:
Awesome post! That is a great list and I must say that we have been blessed with great men of God as our Popes over the last 150 years.
I can't believe you leave out my favs Julius II who had St. Peter's rebuilt, so much artwork commissioned and literally fought for the independence of the Church as opposed to Church-State fusion and John XXIII who partially modernized the Church.
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