I think the way the British would understand modern times as from about 1870 (possibly even earlier) onwards.
I was making a joke about the inclination of people to view everything within their lifetimes as being the "greatest" or "best" or "most important", since, as we know, history begins when we are born.
But, even taking your timeframe of post-1870 seriously, there is one Pope that has been canonized (Saint Pius X (1903-14)) and two who are blessed (Bl. Pius IX (1846-78) and Bl. John XXIII (1958-63)). There is absolutley no way to rank JPII with St. Pius X.