Who is the Best Pope in History?
Global 2026 survey by Tickets & Tours reveals the world’s favorite pope ahead of historic Vatican transition
Best pope in history
- Introduction: Who is the best pope in history?
- Survey method: 22,019 votes, 83 countries
- The results: St. John Paul II tops the list
- Most votes: Pope St. John Paul II
- Second place: Pope Francis
- Third place: Pope Benedict XVI
- Fourth place: Pope St. Paul VI
- Best popes by country: some surprising (and not so surprising) results
- How countries picked their favorite pope
- What the Tickets & Tours survey really reveals
- White smoke, global voices
- Methodology
Introduction: Who’s the best pope ever?
In April 2026, just days before the passing of Pope Francis, a new global survey of travelers offered new insight into how the world views the papacy. The survey was led by our research team at Vatican Tickets & Tours and Colosseum Tickets & Tours, two platforms used by hundreds of thousands of travelers each year. We asked one simple question to people planning their Vatican visit: Who is the best pope in history?
The results come from 22,019 verified responses across 83 countries. They give a rare look at how real travelers view the role of popes and Church leadership.
With Pope Francis passing on April 21 and a new conclave set for May 7, Tickets & Tours survey reflects more than opinions – it captures global feelings at a key moment of change for the Vatican. As the world watches the Vatican prepare for its next chapter, the results show that visitors aren’t just visiting the Vatican City for art and history – they’re also thinking about faith, leadership, and the legacy of the Church. The Vatican is more than a destination, it’s a place where history, faith, and culture meet. From the Sistine Chapel to St. Peter’s Basilica, its significance goes far beyond architecture. In 2024, over 9 million people visited, and with the Jubilee Year now underway, even larger crowds are expected. The Vatican remains one of the world’s most visited and iconic destinations – a place where history, art, and faith come together.
Survey method: 22,019 votes, 83 countries
- Dates: Conducted between March 26 – 30, 2026
- Platforms used: Vatican Tickets & Tours and Colosseum Tickets & Tours
- Audience: Active users booking Vatican or Colosseum tickets
- Participation: 22,019 users (10% of total visitors)
- Survey format: One-question survey embedded in the booking process
- Data quality: Real users only, no general or passive online audience
- Privacy: Responses anonymized and collected in real time
- Approach: Transparent, direct-data method focused on traveler sentiment
Between March 26 and March 30, 2026, more than 200,000 travelers used our two popular platforms – Vatican Tickets & Tours and Colosseum Tickets & Tours to book their Vatican tickets and tours. During that time, we added a one-question survey to the booking process. A total of 22,019 users, or 10%, chose to take part.
As travel trend expert Magdalena Petrusic explains, the idea came during a moment of global uncertainty:
Magdalena PetrusicT&T Travel Expert
“We saw an immediate surge in traffic the day Pope Francis was hospitalized. That alone told us something – people weren’t just buying tickets. They were emotionally invested. That’s when we knew we needed to ask: Which pope truly resonates with today’s travelers?”
Unlike general online polls, our survey was part of the actual booking process. Everyone who answered was a real user planning a visit to the Vatican or Colosseum, giving us a focused sample of travelers with genuine interest in the destination and the topic. Answers were collected in real time, kept anonymous, and processed using a transparent, direct-data method. The result is a rare, direct look at how today’s travelers see popes and their legacy.
Total votes per country
The results: John Paul II tops the list
Travelers voted – here are their favorite popes:
1. Pope St. John Paul II (1978–2005): 11,161 votes (50.69%)
2. Pope Francis (2013–2025): 7,805 votes (35.45%)
3. Pope Benedict XVI (2005–2013): 1,750 votes (7.95%)
4. Pope St. Paul VI (1963–1978): 1,303 votes (5.92%)
According to our survey, Pope St. John Paul II emerged as the clear frontrunner, receiving over half of all votes. Pope Francis, however, also received strong support – a result made even more meaningful because the survey was conducted during the final days of his papacy. This highlights the deep connection many travelers felt with his leadership and legacy.
Most votes: Pope St. John Paul II
Pontificate: 1978–2005
Global appeal of Pope St. John Paul II – Survey insights
- Total votes received: 11,161 (50.69% of all responses)
- Ranked #1 in 41 countries
- Countries with the most support:
- Poland: 1,795 votes – his home country gave him overwhelming support.
- Hungary: 674 votes
- Czechia: 648 votes
- Romania: 609 votes
- United Kingdom: 595 votes
- Ukraine: 448 votes
- United States: 774 votes
- Germany: 373 votes
- Votes across continents:
- Strong in Eastern Europe (Poland, Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia, Romania)
- Widely respected in Western countries (UK, US, Canada, Australia)
- Gained consistent support in Asia (e.g., South Korea, Philippines, Japan)
- Even received votes from the Middle East (Israel, UAE) and Latin America (Brazil, Mexico)
After nearly 500 years of Italian papal tradition, St. John Paul II was the first non-Italian elected pope from Poland during a time of big changes in the world. He played a key role in the peaceful collapse of communism, actively worked on interfaith dialogue, and visited 129 countries during his papacy. His public forgiveness toward his would-be assassin made him a symbol of strength and compassion worldwide.
As he once said, “I have a sweet tooth for travel – and I travel with my heart.”
Second place: Pope Francis
Pontificate: 2013–2025
Pope Francis – Survey highlights his humble and inclusive papacy
- Total votes: 7,805 (35.45%)
- Rank: 2nd place, behind St. John Paul II
- Top countries by votes: Italy (746), Argentina (101), U.S. (624), UK (423), Romania (588), Hungary (357)
Pope Francis was the first pope from South America and the first Jesuit to lead the Catholic Church. Considered by many as more liberal and progressive than his recent predecessors, he was known for his focus on compassion, simplicity, and social justice. In 2016, he made history by meeting the leader of the Orthodox Church, the first such meeting in almost 1,000 years. Like Pope John Paul II, he traveled widely, visiting 68 countries during his papacy. By the time he died in April 2026, his Instagram account @franciscus had over 9 million followers, showing how far his influence reached beyond the Church.
According to the Tickets & Tours survey, he received over half of all votes. It’s a result that strongly reflects his global appeal and deep connection with people across cultures and continents. His modern, humble, and global approach connected deeply with today’s travelers, especially as the survey took place just before his death.
Third place: Pope Benedict XVI
Pontificate: 2005–2013
Pope Benedict XVI – A respected but less popular globally
- Total votes: 1,750
- Share of total votes: 7.95%
- Countries with notable support: Germany (234 votes), Hungary (152), Czechia (75), Italy (94), United States (135), and Poland (88)
Pope Benedict XVI got 1,750 votes in the Tickets & Tours survey, or about 8% of the total. His strongest support came from Germany, Hungary, Czechia, Italy, and the United States.
As a theologian and traditionalist, he was respected for his deep thinking and focus on Church teachings. But his popularity was more regional, especially in Central Europe. Unlike John Paul II or Francis, he had a quieter style and served for a shorter time (2005–2013), which may explain the smaller number of votes. Though reserved in demeanor, he left a lasting impression on Catholics seeking stability and spiritual depth.
He is also remembered for stepping down – the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years.
“Pilgrimage is an image of life.” – Benedict XVI
Fourth place: Pope St. Paul VI
Pontificate: 1963–1978
Pope St. Paul VI – A quiet reformer with a lasting legacy
- Total Votes: 1,303
- Overall share: 5.92% of 22,019 total responses
- Rank: 4th out of the four modern popes listed
- Top countries by vote count: United States (103 votes), United Kingdom (96 votes), Italy (86 votes), Germany (60 votes), Czechia (76 votes).
Pope St. Paul VI received 1,303 votes from travelers in 42 countries, showing his legacy still resonates. His support was strongest in Europe and North America, with some representation in Asia (India, Thailand, South Korea) and the Middle East (Israel, UAE). While he didn’t get mass support in the survey, many travelers who voted for him likely value his role in Church reform and history. Paul VI led the Church during a major period of change. He oversaw the final steps of the Second Vatican Council, helped modernize Church practices, promoted interfaith dialogue, and was the first pope to travel to all six continents. His 1968 document Humanae Vitae sparked major debate on Church teachings. Though less visible in the media than other popes, his quiet leadership left a lasting impact, and his votes reflect respect from informed travelers who appreciate that legacy.
“The world calls for and expects from us simplicity of life, the spirit of prayer, charity towards all, especially towards the lowly and the poor, obedience and humility…” – Paul VI
Best popes by country: Some surprising (and not so surprising) results
Some voting patterns followed expectations – others completely flipped the script. Our global survey revealed how different countries view the greatest popes in history. Most responses came from Poland, followed by the United States, Hungary, and Czechia. On the other end, countries like Qatar, Uruguay, and Vietnam had the fewest participants.
Germany didn’t favor its own pope
Even though Pope Benedict XVI was German, he only got 24.25% of the vote in Germany, trailing John Paul II and Francis.
Argentina almost chose someone else over their own pope
Pope Francis, born in Argentina, received just 53.44% of the vote. John Paul II followed closely with 46.56%. A near tie between Francis and John Paul II shows that nostalgia for a global figure rivals even local pride.
John Paul II outshone Francis in Brazil
A pope from the region (Latin America) didn’t win in a fellow Latin American country. In the largest Catholic country in the world, John Paul II received 58.01%, while Francis had 41.99%.
Support for Paul VI
Although he received the fewest votes overall, nearly 6% of voters chose Paul VI, decades after his papacy ended, showing lasting respect for his role in modernizing the Church.
- Poland: No surprise here – John Paul II dominated with 85.84%, a strong show of national devotion.
- Portugal: A clear win for Francis with 76.72%, showing his deep connection with Portuguese-speaking Catholics.
- Ukraine: John Paul II earned 68.71%, reflecting his strong support for the country during times of crisis and political reform.
- Russia: No clear favorite, but Benedict XVI got more support there than in most other countries. His traditional views and serious style may have appealed to Russian travelers.
How countries picked their favorite pope
- St. John Paul II led in countries with strong Catholic roots like Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Brazil, where his moral authority and historic visits left a deep legacy.
- Pope Francis was the top choice in more progressive, globally minded countries like Canada (52.19%), Portugal (76.72%), South Korea, and Japan.
- Francis’s focus on compassion, climate, and social justice connects well in places where faith blends with modern civic values.
- The divide between John Paul II’s legacy and Francis’s message suggests a contrast between memory and meaning, both important to today’s travelers.
- Surprising votes came from places like Turkey, Egypt, and China — a reminder that the pope is more than a religious figure; he’s a global symbol.
What the Tickets & Tours survey really reveals
Our survey goes deeper than just naming favorite popes. It reveals how travelers today see the papacy as a symbol of leadership, values, and hope, whether they’re religious or not.
- John Paul II is remembered for his strength, resilience, and role in significant historical moments.
- Pope Francis is seen as a symbol of compassion, humility, and a Church that listens and adapts.
- Benedict XVI is respected for his intellect, though fewer travelers feel connected to him, while St Paul VI is appreciated for his quiet but lasting reforms.
As travel expert Magdalena Petrusic puts it:
“Some see the pope as a spiritual guide, others as a moral voice – but what they all share is a search for hope. And they carry that with them when they visit Rome.”
The findings of our research show that travelers respect past popes for their legacy and look to today’s papacy for guidance and hope.
Interesting observation
Magdalena PetrusicT&T Travel Expert
Our survey suggests that votes for popes may have reflected more than admiration. They reveal the impact of personal connection. Could it be that John Paul II was voted the best pope in history because he visited more countries than any other, reaching people around the world in person?
White smoke, global voices
As the Vatican prepares for its next chapter, and as the world watches the white smoke rise to mark a new era of leadership, Rome is set to welcome millions for the 2026 Jubilee.
At Vatican Tickets & Tours, we do more than provide tickets. We listen to travelers, ask questions, and share what they’re really thinking and planning as they visit the heart of the Catholic world, a unique cultural site and the only country fully listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This research, done by Tickets & Tours specialists, is part of that mission: to give travelers a voice, understand what brings them to Rome, and help make their journey as meaningful as the destination.
Methodology note: This survey was conducted exclusively through the Vatican Tickets & Tours and Colosseum Tickets & Tours platforms between April 26-30, 2026. The question appeared on the homepage and during the booking flow, offering four predefined answer options (the four most recent popes). Participation was optional and not linked to the completion of a purchase. All respondents were active users planning or booking their Vatican visit. Responses were anonymous, collected in real time, and verified through session analytics and geolocation tracking. Internal validation tools were used to prevent duplication and ensure data integrity. The total response rate was 10.1% (22,019 out of 217,456 users).
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