As Catholics worldwide pray for Pope Francis, 88, who was recently diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia and remains hospitalized for treatment, a look back at the popes of the last century reveals a history marked by both progress and controversy.

The popes of the past 100 years have navigated political divisions, faced backlash, broken with tradition, and spread messages of love and compassion while traveling the globe to minister to the vulnerable.

Prior to Pope Francis’s election in 2013, Pope Benedict XVI, formerly Joseph Ratzinger, led the Church from 2005 to 2013.

Born in , Ratzinger’s early life was shaped by the horrors of the Nazi regime, inspiring his commitment to the Church. His family endured abuse and punishment from the Nazi Party, and despite his opposition to the regime, he was compelled to join the Hitler Youth at age 14.

Ratzinger’s seminary studies were interrupted by his conscription into World War II, during which he was captured and held as a prisoner of war by American forces. Following his release, he left the military and was ordained in 1951 alongside his brother.

Elected pope in 2005, Benedict XVI emphasized God’s eternal love, urged Catholics to maintain their faith, and promoted love, joy, and truth during his papacy.

In 2013, Benedict XVI became the first pope in 600 years to resign, citing health concerns.

He passed away in 2022 at the age of 95.

Pope John Paul II, born Karol Wojtyła, was elected pope on October 16, 1978, becoming the first Polish pope.

He chose his regnal name in honor of his predecessor, Pope John Paul I, who died after only one month as the sovereign of Vatican City.

Wojtyła’s election marked the first time in over 400 years that a non-Italian had been chosen as pope. At 58, he was also one of the youngest popes in history.

Wojtyla studied theology in Rome and served as the archbishop of Krakow. During his 26-year pontificate, John Paul II visited 129 countries, earning the title of the most traveled pope.

His papacy focused on service, peace, and the protection of life. In 1981, Mehmet Ali Ağca attempted to assassinate the pope in St. Peter’s Square in , shooting him twice while he rode in an open car. Seriously wounded, he was rushed to Gemelli Hospital in Rome for treatment.

John Paul II later met with Ağca in prison and personally forgave him.

John Paul II died in his Vatican apartment in 2005 at the age of 84 and was canonized as a saint in 2014.

Pope John Paul I, born Albino Luciani, was elected pope on August 26, 1978, but his reign was short-lived, as he died 33 days later.

Ordained in 1935, he became a bishop in 1958 and the archbishop of Venice in 1969. He was known as “the Smiling Pope.”

Pope Paul VI, born Giovanni Battista Montini in , was elected pontiff in 1963 after serving as archbishop of Milan.

During his papacy, Montini concluded three sessions of the Second Vatican Council, a significant period of renewal for the Catholic Church. The council’s documents condemned antisemitism and marked a milestone in the Church’s history.

Montini traveled to the Holy Land, India, Uganda, the Philippines, and parts of the United States during his reign.

Pope Paul VI was canonized as a saint in 2018, recognized for his strong leadership and efforts to foster stronger relationships with other religions.

Pope Paul VI died in 1978 at the age of 80.

Pope John XXIII, born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, was born in Sotto il Monte, Italy, into a family of 13 children.

Roncalli entered the seminary in 1892, was ordained in 1904, and became a cardinal and the patriarch of Venice in 1953.

As pontiff, Roncalli convened the Second Vatican Council, modernizing the Catholic Church through liturgical and theological reforms and improved relations with other religions.

Pope John XXIII died of cancer in 1963 and was canonized as a saint along with John Paul II in 2014.

Pope Pius XII, born Eugenio Pacelli, was an Italian cardinal before his election as pope on his 63rd birthday in 1939.

Pope Pius XI named Pacelli a cardinal after a one-day conclave among the College of Cardinals in 1929.

Pacelli served as pope during World War II and through . Vatican archives reveal that he received information about the atrocities against Jewish people in Germany and was often petitioned to help them.

has faced criticism for his perceived lack of support for Jews during World War II, but the Vatican has consistently defended his actions.

Pius XII died in 1958 at the age of 82.

Pope Pius XI, born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was ordained a priest in 1879. Pope Benedict XV named him a cardinal and archbishop of Milan in 1921, and he was elected pope in 1922.

Benito Mussolini, the Italian dictator, rose to power in 1922. The Lateran Treaty, signed by Mussolini and the papacy, recognized papal sovereignty over Vatican City, establishing the state as a neutral territory and granting the pope political independence.

Pius XI died in 1939 at the age of 81.

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