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The Pope is the spiritual leader of the world’s approximately 1.3 billion Catholics — an individual who represents enormous religious, cultural, and symbolic importance. Leader of the Vatican, the Pope is elected by the College of Cardinals and is the Bishop of Rome and successor to Saint Peter. The role blends faith and tradition, diplomacy and moral leadership on a global level.
Pope Francis, who became pope in 2013, passed away recently. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he was the first New World Pope and a huge shift in the center of gravity for the Church. His papacy was marked by humility, social justice, and a gaze outward beyond Europe, showing the Church’s increasing international stature.
It does leave one to wonder: Where were the Popes of the Catholic Church born throughout history?
To answer that, here is a map created by @the.world.in.maps showing how many Popes were from each country throughout history.
Here’s a breakdown of the number of Popes by country of birth:
Country
Number of Popes
Italy
196
Unknown
18
France
15
Greece
11
Syria
5
Germany
5
Spain
3
Africa (historical region)
3
Portugal
2
West Bank
2
United Kingdom
1
Israel
1
Netherlands
1
Poland
1
Croatia
1
Argentina
1
Why So Many Popes from Italy?
Italy’s predominance makes sense when you think about it. During most of history, the Catholic Church’s center of gravity was Rome — both politically and spiritually. In the early centuries, Popes were almost always chosen from the local clergy (travel was difficult, communications slow, and cultural chasms deep.).
In addition, the Papal States, an independent state ruled by the Pope from roughly 756 to 1870, anchored the papacy firmly in Italian soil. To this day, the Vatican sits within the walls of Rome, a living witness to that historic connection.
And What About the Others?
France, Greece, Syria, and Germany also appear on the list, though with much smaller numbers. France’s influence peaked during the Avignon Papacy (1309–1377), when the seat of the Pope was moved temporarily to Avignon, France. Greece and Syria, however, symbolize the early spread of Christianity into the Eastern Mediterranean — a region far more preponderant in the Church’s first centuries than it is today.
It’s also worth noting that ancient lands like “Africa” refer to Roman Africa (roughly modern-day Tunisia and parts of Algeria and Libya), not the continent as we know it today.
A Modern Shift: The Global Church
In recent decades, the Catholic Church has expanded rapidly outside of Europe — especially in Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia. Pope John Paul II (a Pole) and Pope Francis (an Argentine) are dramatic symbols of this shift.
The largest Catholic populations today are in Africa and Latin America, not Europe. Brazil, Mexico, the Philippines, and Nigeria are some of the largest Catholic populations in the world. The Church is no longer a predominantly European institution — it’s a truly global one.
Can we anticipate that future Popes will come from these regions? Many think it’s likely. As the demographic center of Catholicism shifts south, the leadership of the Church may eventually follow suit.
