16 RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN HISTORY AND TODAY - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

Today I come with a list of the 16 most famous religious leaders in the world, both current and historical. In addition, I have tried to ensure that there is variety and that all creeds are represented. If you can think of any, do not forget to put it below in the comments, since the list is far from fixed.

Religion is an essential aspect in people's lives. There are those who base their faith on the existence of a god, those who prefer to profess various beliefs, or also those who do not believe in anything.

Be that as it may, the different dogmas that spread throughout the world are guided by the hand of different leaders. They do it now, and have done it throughout history.

Religious leaders today

Desmond Tutu (South Africa, 1931)

First Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town. His activity as a preacher has led him to position himself against racism, poverty and homophobia among many other things.

Without going any further, in 1984 he won the Nobel Peace Prize

Pope Benedict XVI (Germany, 1927)

Joseph Ratzinger is about the current Pope Emeritus. His resignation in 2013, after 8 years of papacy, resulted in his first resignation from office in seven centuries.

It highlights his incredible ability to develop texts and speeches, a skill acquired during his theology career and later chair.

Dalai Lama (Tiber, 1935)

Tenzin Gyatso is about the fourteenth Dalai Lama. He has held this rank since 1950 and is, together with the Pope, one of the most influential spiritual leaders in the world.

Gyatso has promoted the independence of Tibet from China and constantly seeks to improve the ethical principles of humanity.

Thich Nhat Hanh (Vietnam, 1926)

Buddhist monk who preaches the practice of typical Zen teachings along with contributions from Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism.

His activism during the Vietnam War led him to go into exile in France, where he would create a Buddhist teaching community that he leads to this day.

Rick Warren (United States, 1954)

This pastor has been able to found one of the largest churches in the United States. Without going any further, his book, The purpose driven life, is the best-selling hardcover work in the history of the American country.

His opinions have always been powerful influences on political opinion, supporting and voting for candidates like George Bush.

Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani (Iran, 1930)

Considered the most important leader in Iraq, Al Sistani is one of the most influential and important Shiite cleric in the world, organizing protests with little effort.

It controls an entire set of offices in 15 countries that in turn influence a vast majority of Shiite believers.

Pope Francis I (Buenos Aires, 1936)

Current Pope of the Catholic Church. Argentine Jorge Mario Bergoglio came to power in 2013. Since then, he has made headlines for his revolutionary ideas regarding the Church, where he has imposed a much more open and liberal mentality.

Peter Akinola (Nigeria, 1944)

Head of the Anglican Church of Africa who has expressed his ideology as contrary to homophobia and the cultural differences that separate the world.

His liberal and non-traditionalist proposals have clashed with Western Anglican minds.

Bakr al-Baghdadi (Iraq, 1971)

Self-proclaimed caliph of all Muslims and leader of the Islamic State, al-Baghdadi is, according to Time magazine, the most dangerous man in the world.

In his mind is the idea of ​​rebuilding the great extinct Muslim empires through the radical use of force.

He is currently in search and capture.

David Miscavige (United States, 1960)

David is the current president of the Church of Scientology. Being just a young man, he would join your organization, rising rapidly.

Various media have considered him a sectarian and abusive leader, who enriches his Church through intimidation and extortion of people.

Bartholomew I (Turkey, 1940)

Dimitrios Arhondonis is the leader of the Orthodox Church, which has 300 million Christians. He is the current Archbishop of Constantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch.

His mandate is characterized by cooperation between Christians and dialogue between different religions.

Among his nicknames, is that of "the Green Patriarch" due to his awareness of caring for the environment and ecology.

Historical religious leaders

Muhammad (Saudi Arabia, around 570)

Founder of Islam who lived preaching the precepts of the Muslim religion. His life is wrapped in a halo of legend, since few reliable data are known about him.

His inspiration came when he decided to retire to the desert. There the archangel Gabriel would appear to him to reveal the secrets of the true faith and help him in his subsequent preaching.

Jesus of Nazareth (present day Israel around 4 BC)

Jewish Messiah who founded Christianity. After being born of the Virgin Mary, she would live her life spreading the religion that led her to die crucified.

According to the Gospels, in which his life is related, he performed various miracles throughout his life.

Despite the popular belief of starting to count the calendar with his birth, various sources suggest that this was 4 BC The reason lies in the fact that his arrival in this world coincides with the death of Herod, who, as you can guess, passed away 4 BC

Alexander VI (Spain, 1431)

Rodrigo Borgia was the 214th Pope of the Church and probably the best known of all. His fame is given to him due to his controversies: he came to dominate practically all of Italy, but not before carrying out bribes, betrayals and murders.

Saint Francis of Assisi (Italy, around 1181)

Christian saint and deacon who founded the Fraciscan Order and who would go through his own free will from living in wealth to absolute poverty.

Also noteworthy is his trip to Egypt in order to convert Muslims into Christians, and encourage all his closest circles to live austerely, just as he did.

Henry VIII (England, 1491)

Henry was a king of England from the Tudor house. His actions outside the ecclesiastical law led him to be excommunicated.

The monarch reacted by proclaiming himself as the supreme head of the Church of England and setting aside the figure of the Pope of Rome.