Pope Gregory VII declared all popes saints, but that fell away not long after Gregory VII died.
Pope Stephen V (VI), during the late 800s, self-servingly ruled an even higher papal honor:
“The popes, like Jesus, are conceived by their mothers through the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost. All popes are a certain species of man-god. All powers in heaven, as well as on earth are given to them.”
Contemporary Catholic thought has it that popes are good candidates for sainthood, but that the process is far from automatic.
Most Popes these days, however, are well respected, and sainthood is just a title and formality to many contemporary Catholics.
Besides, the Catholic Church says that it does not, in fact, make anyone a saint. Rather, it recognizes a saint.
