Pope Leo XIV has been named among the world’s most influential figures in Time magazine’s 2026 list, the publication announced on April 15, placing the first American pope on its annual roll-call of leaders, innovators and cultural figures shaping public life.

The recognition forms part of the magazine’s long-running Time 100 list, now more than 20 years old, which seeks to identify individuals whose actions and ideas have had a significant impact during the preceding year. The magazine says there is “no single metric” for influence, and that selections are guided by the stories shaping the world each year.

Pope Leo XIV joins a diverse group of political leaders, cultural figures and public personalities included in the 2026 list. His selection was accompanied by a published reflection from the filmmaker Martin Scorsese, who highlighted the Pope’s public presence and pastoral approach in the early period of his pontificate.

Scorsese wrote that he had been “struck by his bravery and his common touch”, drawing comparisons between Pope Leo and his predecessor Pope Francis. In his commentary, Scorsese said both pontiffs understood the need for reform within the Church if it is to retain its moral and spiritual force.

The recognition also reflects the historic significance of Pope Leo’s election. He is the first American pope, and Time described him as the first Augustinian pope in 500 years. Observers have noted that his early pontificate has been marked by public engagement with questions of spiritual formation, pastoral governance and the role of the laity in Catholic life.

In recent months, Pope Leo has also drawn attention to classic works of Christian spirituality, including a new edition of The Practice of the Presence of God, written by the 17th-century Carmelite friar Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection. In an introduction to the volume published in December 2025, the Pope wrote that the text had helped shape his own spiritual life.

Time’s annual list has frequently included religious leaders whose influence extends beyond ecclesial structures into broader cultural and social life. The inclusion of a reigning pope reflects the continuing global visibility of the papacy as both a spiritual office and an institution engaged with contemporary moral and humanitarian concerns.