Take a Look at the Four Popes Who Have Charted on Billboard

Believe it or not, popes have a long history on Billboard’s charts.

For decades, pontiffs have released albums containing spoken-word sermons, prayers and hymns. As a result, several popes have charted on Billboard — most recently Pope Francis in 2015 with Wake Up! Music Album With His Words and Prayers.

With the news of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost being named the new Pope under the papal name Leo XIV, let’s look back at all four popes who have appeared on Billboard’s charts.

Pope XXIII

Pope XXIII’s self-titled spoken-word album reached No. 132 on the Billboard 200 chart dated August 17, 1963 — two months after he died. The set is a memorial compilation of key moments from his papacy, including one of the final blessings he gave from St. Peter’s Square.

Pope John Paul II

He first appeared on the charts in 1979 with Pope John Paul II Sings at the Festival of Sacroso, which reached No. 126 on the Billboard 200. In January 1995, El Rosario del Papa (the Spanish counterpart to The Rosary with the Pope, which comprises Rosary prayers) reached No. 47 on the Top Latin Albums chart. He returned in 1999 with Abbà Pater, a collection of sermons accompanied by classical compositions composed by Leonardo De Amicis. Released on Sony Classical, it peaked at No. 2 on the Classical Crossover Albums chart, No. 3 on Classical Albums and No. 175 on the Billboard 200.

Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI was next, when he charted with Alma Mater: Music from the Vatican in 2009. The set reached No. 3 on the Traditional Classical Albums chart and No. 12 on Classical Albums. He returned in 2022 and 2024 with collaborative albums with Richard Sparks. Billed as “Benedict XVI and His Orchestra with Richard Sparks, the sets are titled Frank La Rocca: Mass of the Americas / Misa de Las Américas and Frank La Rocca: Requiem for the Forgotten, Messe des Malades. Both albums hit No. 1 on the Traditional Classical Albums chart, while the former also reached No. 16 on Classical Albums. According to the latter album’s liner notes, the set is dedicated to displaced and homeless individuals.

Pope Francis

His 2015 album Wake Up!: Music Album With His Words and Prayers includes speeches, prayers and hymns he gave around the world between 2013 and 2015. It reached No. 4 on the World Albums chart and No. 5 on Top Christian Albums.

Honorable Mention: The Singing Nun (Sœur Sourire)

Though not a pope, the Singing Nun holds a special distinction by earning a No. 1 hit on the Hot 100 chart in 1963. The former real-life nun, who went by the name Sister Luc Gabriel, spent four weeks on top with “Dominique,” while her album The Singing Nun spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.