Here are the stories of three men who rose from unlikely beginnings tobecome arguably the most loved and respected Popes of the modern era. One was born into a family of Italian peasant farmers; one lived and worked under the oppression of the Nazis and the Soviets; one was brought up in the unstable climate of twentieth-century Argentina. Each man was elected to lead the worldwide Catholic Church and each brought their own remarkable and uniquely personal talents to the task. While Pope Francis has brought new hope and revolutionary vision to the Church, Popes John XXIII and John Paul II have become saints. All three are characterised by humility and holiness, wisdom, grace and strong personality.