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Famous Catholics

Can you name these Roman Catholic people from the past and present?
Quiz by
Quizmaster
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Last updated: March 31, 2026
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First submittedAugust 14, 2012
Times taken27,641
Average score80.0%
Rating4.16
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Clue
Catholic
The only pope born in Poland
John Paul II
The first Catholic U.S. President
John F. Kennedy
The only player to win three men's FIFA World Cups
Pelé
Author of "Utopia" who was executed in the reign of Henry VIII
Thomas More
She founded a mission to serve "the poorest of the poor" in the slums of Calcutta
Mother Teresa
Director of the 2004 film "The Passion of the Christ"
Mel Gibson
Painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
Michelangelo
One of only two bodybuilders to star in "Predator" and also govern a U.S. state
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Woman who fought for France and was burned at the stake
Joan of Arc
Queen who tried to restore Catholicism to England
Mary I
Australian actress who returned to Catholicism after a hiatus as a Scientologist
during her former marriage
Nicole Kidman
Poet who wrote "The Divine Comedy"
Dante Alighieri
Basketball star who took the Eucharist just hours before he died in a tragic
helicopter accident in 2020
Kobe Bryant
Creator of Middle Earth
J.R.R. Tolkien
The only French king to be sainted
Louis IX
Italian-American crooner who starred as a priest in "The Miracle of the Bells"
despite rumors of Mafia connections
Frank Sinatra
He found a way to use heat to reduce the risk of bacterial infection in milk
Louis Pasteur
Philosopher whose "wager" says that one should believe in God because the
cost is finite, while the potential benefits are infinite
Blaise Pascal
Actor who is the father of Emilio and Charlie
Martin Sheen
"Turbulent priest" who was allegedly murdered at the behest of Henry II
Thomas Becket
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33 Comments
FentonsDad
+6
Level 89
Oct 21, 2012
...and two Catholics currently in the news, Joe Biden and Paul Ryan. Nice quiz!
Ozchris
+5
Level 32
Mar 16, 2013
I knew Kennedy was catholic. Didn't know the Pope was though. ;)
kalbahamut
+3
Level 79
Mar 17, 2013
On South Park, God is a Buddhist. even though Mormonism is revealed as the one true faith. and I believe the cardinals at the Vatican worship a giant spider, though that might have ended after the episode Red Hot Catholic Love.
samiamco
+2
Level 68
Dec 9, 2017
…which is pretty comedic, considering that Buddhism is non-theistic / has no God!
Findlay
+1
Level 80
Aug 8, 2022
Buddhism doesn't, but many Buddhists do believe in/worship gods. For example in Japan, most Buddhists also follow Shinto, which has millions of gods.
Quizmaster
+6
Level ∞
Mar 27, 2026
Wow, that sounds pretty edgy. Really so brave to parody religion these days. I wonder if they ever made any jokes about Islam?
Americas
+1
Level 74
Apr 2, 2026
They tried to but the episode was heavily censored by Comedy Central.
joeythelemur
+1
Level 80
Aug 13, 2014
The Young Ones had a bit like that in their "Boring" episode.
gph
+1
Level 57
Sep 18, 2015
Did you mean CS Lewis instead of JRR Tolkein? They were friends and Lewis was a "famous Catholic".
Jacktheguy
+9
Level 93
Jan 9, 2018
Lewis also did not invent Middle-Earth.
DixonTiconderoga
+4
Level 45
Feb 15, 2025
Tolkien was Catholic, while Lewis, upon his conversion, became Anglican.
chyde
+9
Level 34
Dec 9, 2017
As a Catholic I find this sad. You should have called it "worldly famous so-called catholics". Many of these people are catholic in name only, but not practicing catholics. Others, as you mentioned, are excommunicated. Then you have people like Mel Gibson who belong to a non catholic sect called sedevacantists who do not believe the pope is the pope and are also excommunicated, and therefore not catholic.
samiamco
+14
Level 68
Dec 9, 2017
As a human, I find it sad that you purport to both know the hearts of people that are either total strangers to you, or are dead. Why don't you let the quiz be about how people choose to identify themselves, and let God sort out the rest? (Aside to Quizmaster: chyde is right, however, about Mel Gibson – he's in a non-sanctioned offshoot that is not recognized as the Catholic Church, and is in fact considered apostatical.)
Quizmaster
+4
Level ∞
Mar 31, 2026
I've updated this quiz to only include practicing Catholics.

It was actually kind of difficult. Most of the celebrities who are often mentioned as Catholic are essentially atheists or deists.

Djilas
+3
Level 86
Mar 31, 2026
Why is Gibson still there then?
Quizmaster
+2
Level ∞
Mar 31, 2026
"Is the pope Catholic?" To most people, this is a rhetorical question. But to Gibson, it's not and the answer is no.

He sees himself as Catholic, it's the pope who is wrong. Which does raise the question of what does it mean to be Catholic. Does it mean just doing whatever the pope says? I think there's some wiggle room here.

fuanacdc
+8
Level 89
Dec 13, 2017
Read the clue as 'Middle Earth invader'. Was trying to figure out how Sauron was written to be Catholic.
ander217
+3
Level 73
Jan 9, 2018
You just had to threw in a soccer clue, didn't you? Another potential perfect score shot to heck. (At least it gives me a sports opening and a chance to say, "Roll Tide!!!")
Osiris
+2
Level 68
May 27, 2018
Oh no, Ander. The comment guidelines specifically forbid vulgar language.
kalbahamut
+2
Level 79
Nov 5, 2018
Oh come on, ander. Even I know Pele.
kenpo17
+3
Level 65
Jan 9, 2018
Loved the clue for Arnold!
BobSaget
+1
Level 76
Jan 9, 2018
Two former-governor, body builder stars of "Predator" also starred in "The Running Man." Where's the love for that movie?
TH0R
+2
Level 26
Jan 10, 2018
Was expecting to find John Wayne; he also converted on his deathbed.
ClaudioP
+1
Level 66
May 29, 2022
A few more names:

Spencer Tracy, Flannery O'Connor, Shusaku Endō, Georges Bernanos, Sigrid Undset, G.K. Chesterton, Morris West, Graham Greene, Bing Crosby, Mark Wahlberg, Nicole Kidman, Martin Scorsese, Gary Cooper, Ennio Morricone, Franco Zeffirelli, Alfred Hitchcock, Grace Kelly, Jack Lemmon, Robert Bresson, John Ford, Gregor Mendel, Louis Pasteur, Blaise Pascal, Nicolaus Copernicus, Antonio Vivaldi, Amadeus Mozart.

RobsPubQuiz
+1
Level 58
Jan 9, 2026
First question needs updating. New pope unlocked in 2025
RobsPubQuiz
+1
Level 58
Jan 9, 2026
Great quiz otherwise though!
RobsPubQuiz
+5
Level 58
Jan 9, 2026
It's a shame there's been two popes called John Paul but none named George Ringo
Remster
+3
Level 81
Mar 31, 2026
I couldn't understand why "Leo" wasn't accepted for "The first Catholic U.S. President". What the hell is wrong with me?
DarthKnight
+1
Level 92
Mar 31, 2026
I was expecting Martin Scorsese (director of The Last Temptation of Christ and Silence) but I guess you couldn't have him and Mel Gibson lol.
Quizmaster
+1
Level ∞
Mar 31, 2026
Would have been a good one.
OldSailor
+1
Level 92
Apr 1, 2026
Coincidentally, Jesse Ventura starred in Predator and was also a Governor, but is certainly not Catholic.
EcceHomo
+1
Level 85
Apr 1, 2026
Oh, my suggestions seem to have disappeared : /
CornishEuropean
+1
Level 58
Apr 6, 2026
Bit of a niche suggestion: the verb generally used in the Catholic Church is 'to receive' the Eucharist rather than 'to take'
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