This is a list of the top-level leaders for religious groups with at least 50,000 adherents, and that led anytime from January 1, 1901, to December 31, 2000. It should likewise only name leaders listed on other articles and lists.
Buddhism Jodo Shinshu (complete list) – Hongwanji-ha Myōnyo, Monshu (1871–1903) Kyōnyo, Monshu (1903–1914) Shōnyo, Monshu (1927–1977) Sokunyo, Monshu (1977–2014) Ōtani-ha Gennyo, Monshu (1889–1908) Shōnyo, Monshu (1908–1925) Sennyo, Monshu (1925–1993) Jōnyo, Monshu (1996–2020)
Soka Gakkai – Tsunesaburō Makiguchi, President (1930–1944) Jōsei Toda, President (1951–1958) Daisaku Ikeda, President (1960–1979) Hiroshi Hōjō, President (1979–1981) Einosuke Akiya, President (1981–2006)
Thai Buddhism – Vajirananavarorasa, Somdet and Supreme Patriarch (1910–1921) Kromma Luang Jinavorn Sirivaddhana, Somdet and Supreme Patriarch (1921–1937) Phae Tissadeva, Somdet Phra and Supreme Patriarch (1938–1944) Momrajavong Chuen Noppavong, Somdet and Supreme Patriarch (1945–1958) Plod Kittisobhana, Somdet Phra and Supreme Patriarch (1960–1962) Yoo Nanodayo, Somdet Phra and Supreme Patriarch (1963–1966) Chuan Utthayi, Somdet Phra and Supreme Patriarch (1965–1971) Pun Punnasiri, Somdet Phra and Supreme Patriarch (1972–1973) Ariyavangsagatayana, Somdet Phra and Supreme Patriarch (1973–1988) Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana, Somdet Phra and Supreme Patriarch (1989–2013)
Tibetan Buddhism Dalai Lama of the Gelug (Yellow Hat sect) – Thubten Gyatso, 13th Dalai Lama (1878–1933) Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama (1937–present) Panchen Lama of the Gelug (Yellow Hat sect) – Thubten Chökyi Nyima, Panchen Lama (1883–1937) Lobsang Trinley Lhündrub Chökyi Gyaltsen, Panchen Lama (1938–1989) Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, Panchen Lama (1989–present), post held in dispute Karmapa Lama (Kagyu sect) – Khakyab Dorje, 15th Karmapa Lama (1870s–1922) Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, 16th Karmapa Lama (1924–1981) Trinley Thaye Dorje, 17th Karmapa Lama (1983–present) Mongolia Jebtsundamba Khutuktu — Bogd Khan (1870–1924) Jambalnamdolchoyjijantsan (1991–2012) Russia Buddhist Traditional Sangha of Russia — Damba Ayusheev, XXIV Pandito Khambo Lama (1995–present)
Christianity
Catholicism
Roman Catholicism Catholic Church (complete list) – Leo XIII, Pope (1878–1903) Pius X, Pope (1903–1914) Benedict XV, Pope (1914–1922) Pius XI, Pope (1922–1939) Pius XII, Pope (1939–1958) John XXIII, Pope (1958–1963) Paul VI, Pope (1963–1978) John Paul I, Pope (1978) John Paul II, Pope (1978–2005)
Old Catholicism Church of Utrecht – Gerardus Gul, Archbishop of Utrecht (1892–1920) Franciscus Kenninck, Archbishop of Utrecht (1920–1937) Andreas Rinkel, Archbishop of Utrecht (1937–1970) Marinus Kok, Archbishop of Utrecht (1970–1981) Antonius Jan Glazemaker, Archbishop of Utrecht (1982–2000) Joris Vercammen, Archbishop of Utrecht (2000–2020)
Independent Catholicism Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan Church) – Gregorio Aglipay y Labayan, Supreme Bishop (1902–1940) Santiago Fonacier, Supreme Bishop (1940–1946) Gerardo Bayaca, Supreme Bishop (1946–1946) Isabelo de los Reyes, Jr., Supreme Bishop (1946–1971) Macario V. Ga, Supreme Bishop (1971–1981) Abdias de la Cruz, Supreme Bishop (1981–1987) Soliman Ganno, Supreme Bishop (1987–1989) Tito Pasco, Supreme Bishop (1989–1993) Alberto Ramento, Supreme Bishop (1993–1999) Tomas Millamena, Supreme Bishop (1999–2005) Polish National Catholic Church of America – Francis Hodur, Prime Bishop (1904–1953) Leon Grochowski, Prime Bishop (1953–1969) Thaddeus Zielinski, Prime Bishop (1969–1978) Francis Rowinski, Prime Bishop (1978–1985) John Swantek, Prime Bishop (1985–2002) Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church – Carlos Duarte Costa, Patriarch (1945–1961) Luis Fernando Castillo Mendez, Patriarch (1961–2009)
Eastern Orthodoxy
Autocephalous Churches Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople – (complete list), the first among equals in Eastern Orthodoxy Constantine V, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (1897–1901) Joachim III, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (1901–1912) Germanus V, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (1913–1918) Meletius IV, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (1921–1923) Gregory VII, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (1923–1924) Constantine VI, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (1924–1925) Basil III, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (1925–1929) Photius II, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (1929–1935) Benjamin I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (1936–1946) Maximus V, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (1946–1948) Athenagoras I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (1948–1972) Demetrius I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (1972–1991) Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (1991–present) Albanian Orthodox Church – Visarion (Xhuvani), Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania (1929–1937) Kristofor (Kisi), Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania (1937–1948) Pais (Vodica), Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania (1948–1952) Damian (Kokoneshi), Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania (1952–1967) vacant (1968–1991) Anastasios (Yannoulatos), Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania (1992–2025) Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria (complete list) – Photius, Patriarch of Alexandria (1900–1925) Meletius II, Patriarch of Alexandria (1926–1935) Nicholas V, Patriarch of Alexandria (1936–1939) Christopher II, Patriarch of Alexandria (1939–1966) vacant (1966–1968) Nicholas VI, Patriarch of Alexandria (1968–1986) Parthenius III, Patriarch of Alexandria (1987–1996) Peter VII, Patriarch of Alexandria (1997–2004) Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch (complete list) – Meletius II (Doumani), Patriarchs of Antioch (1899–1906) Gregory IV (Haddad), Patriarch of Antioch (1906–1928) Alexander III (Tahan), Patriarch of Antioch (1928–1958) Arsenius II (Haddad), Patriarch of Antioch (schism, 1930–1931) Theodosius VI (Abourjaily), Patriarch of Antioch (1958–1970) Elias IV (Muawad), Patriarch of Antioch (1970–1979) Ignatius IV (Hazim), Patriarch of Antioch (1979–2012) Bulgarian Orthodox Church (complete list) – Joseph I of Bulgaria, Exarch, (1877–1915) Parteniy of Sofia, Metropolitan (1915–1918) Vasiliy of Dorostol-Cherven, Metropolitan (1918–1921) Maxim of Plovdiv, Metropolitan (1921–1928) Kliment of Vratsa, Metropolitan (1928–1930) Neofit (Karaabov) of Vidin, Metropolitan (1930–1944) Stefan (Shokov) of Bulgaria, Metropolitan (1944–1945) Stefan I of Bulgaria, Exarch (1945–1948) Mihail of Dorostol, Metropolitan (1948–1949) Paisiy of Vratsa, Metropolitan (1949–1951) Cyril of Bulgaria, Metropolitan (1951–1953) Cyril of Bulgaria, Patriarch of All Bulgaria (1953–1971) Maxim (Minkov) of Bulgaria, Patriarch of All Bulgaria (1971–2012) Cypriot Orthodox Church (complete list) – Sophronios III, ArchbArchbishop of Nea Justiniana and All Cypru (1865–1909) Kyrillos II, Archbishop of Nea Justiniana and All Cypru (1909–1916) Kyrillos III, Archbishop of Nea Justiniana and All Cypru (1916–1947) Leontios, Archbishop of Nea Justiniana and All Cypru (1947) Makarios II, Archbishop (1947–1950) Makarios III, Archbishop (1950–1977) Chrysostomos I of Cyprus, Archbishop of Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus (1977–2006) Czech and Slovak Orthodox Church – Gorazd (Pavlik) of Prague, Archbishop of Prague (1921–1942) Jelevferij, Exarch of the Patriarchate of Moscow in Czechoslovakia (1946–1951) Metropolitan of All Czechoslovakia (1951–1955) John (Kukhtin), Metropolitan of Prague and All Czechoslovakia (1956–1959) Eleutherius (Vorontsov), Metropolitan of Prague and All Czechoslovakia (1959–1964) Dorotheus (Filip) of Prague, Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia (1964–1999) Nicholas (Kocvár) of Prešov, Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia (2000–2006) Georgian Orthodox Church – Flavian (Gorodetsky), Exarch of Georgia (1898–1901) Aleksey (Opotsky), Exarch of Georgia (1901–1905) Nicholas (Nalimov), Exarch of Georgia (1905–1906) Nikon (Sofiysky), Exarch of Georgia (1906–1908) Innocent (Beliaev), Exarch of Georgia (1909–1913) Aleksey (Molchanov), Exarch of Georgia (1913–1914) Pitirim (Oknov), Exarch of Georgia (1914–1915) Platon (Rozhdestvensky), Exarch of Georgia (1915–1917) Kyrion II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia (1917–1918) Leonid, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia (1918–1921) Ambrose, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia (1921–1927) Christophorus III, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia (1927–1932) Callistratus, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia (1932–1952) Melchizedek III, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia (1952–1960) Ephraim II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia (1960–1972) David V, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia (1972–1977) Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia (1977–2026) Church of Greece (complete list) – Procopius II of Athens, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece (1896–1901) Theocletus I of Athens, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece (1902–1917 (1st)) Meletius III of Athens, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece (1918–1920) Theocletus I of Athens, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece (1920–1922 (2nd)) Chrysostomos I of Athens, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece (1923–1938) Chrysanthus of Athens, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece (1938–1941) Damaskinos of Athens, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece (1941–1949) Spyridon of Athens, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece (1949–1956) Dorotheus of Athens, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece (1956–1957) Theocletus II of Athens, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece (1957–1962) Iakovos III of Athens, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece (1962) Chrysostomos II of Athens, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece (1962–1967) Ieronymos I of Athens, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece (1967–1973) Seraphim of Athens, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece (1973–1998) Christodoulos of Athens, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece (1998–2008) Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem – Damian I, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine (1897–1931) Timothy I, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine (1935–1955) Benedict I of Jerusalem, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine (1957–1980) Diodoros (Karivalis), Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine (1981–2000) Kornilios of Petra, Locum Tenens of the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem (2000–2001) Orthodox Church in America, North America (complete list) – Tikhon (Bellavin), Bishop of the Aleutians and Alaska (1898–1900) Tikhon (Bellavin), Archbishop (until 1905 - bishop) of the Aleutians and North America (1900–1907) Platon (Rozhdestvensky), Archbishop of the Aleutians and North America (1907–1914) Platon (Rozhdestvensky), Metropolitan of All America and Canada (1922–1934) Evdokim (Meschersky), Archbishop of the Aleutians and North America (1914–1918) Alexander (Nemolovsky), Archbishop of the Aleutians and North America (1919–1922) Theophilus (Pashkovsky), Archbishop of San Francisco, Metropolitan of All America and Canada (1934–1950) Leontius (Turkevich), Archbishop of New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada (1950–1965) Irenaeus (Bekish), Archbishop of New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada (1965–1977) Theodosius (Lazor), Archbishop of New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada (1977–1980), Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada (1981–2002) Polish Orthodox Church Timothy (Szretter) of Bialystok-Gdansk (acting), Metropolitan of Warsaw (1947–1951, recognized by Moscow) Sawa Hrycuniak, Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland (1998–present) Romanian Orthodox Church Iosif, Metropolitan of Hungaro-Walachia and Primate of All Romania (1886–1893, 1896–1909) Atanasie, Metropolitan of Hungaro-Walachia and Primate of All Romania (1909–1911) Conon, Metropolitan of Hungaro-Walachia and Primate of All Romania (1912–1919) Miron Cristea, Metropolitan of Hungaro-Walachia and Primate of All Romania (1919–1925) Miron Cristea, Patriarch of All Romania (1925–1939)