Following the tragic passing of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, over the past few weeks, the Vatican’s conclave has been working diligently to organize the late Argentine’s funeral rites while simultaneously starting the process of selecting a new leader. After intense, closed-door deliberations, the results are in: Pope Leo XIV has officially been chosen as the new head of the Catholic Church.
The first Pope to be born on American soil and carry citizenship, he will be charged with overseeing the Church as it navigates the complexities of a modern world, between tradition, modernity, and mounting demands for institutional reform. The 69-year-old from Chicago, who’s also a Peruvian national, will need more than symbolism to succeed, as he finds himself under immense pressure to restore trust, and maybe redefine how Christianity is understood in the 21st century.
Contrary to common belief though, Pope Leo is far from being one of just a handful of non-Italian popes. While Italians have dominated papacy in modern times, the early history of the Church tells a different story as many of them happen to have come from across the Roman Empire, whose vast expanse included territories that now fall within the borders of the Middle East and North Africa.
Although they were considered Roman in their time, reframing their origins using modern geography reveals a surprising number with roots from our neck of the woods. Whether or not they would still be labeled as Arab by today’s standards is still up for debate, that said, their ties to this part of the world are undeniable.
Below, a quick rundown of all the popes whose origins can, to an extent at least, be traced back to our dear region.
Roman Africa
These popes hail from the Roman province of Africa, which today can be found in parts of modern-day Tunisia, Libya, and Algeria.
- Pope Victor I (189–199)
- Pope Miltiades (311–314)
- Pope Gelasius I (492–496)
Roman Galilee and Ludaea Province
These popes hail from Roman Galilee and the Ludaea Province, which today can be found in parts of modern-day Palestine.
- Saint Peter (c. 30 – c. 67)
- Pope Evaristus (c. 99 – c. 107)
- Pope Theodore I (642–649)
Roman and Byzantine Anatolia
These popes hail from Roman and Byzantine Anatolia, which today can be found in parts of modern-day Turkiye.
- Pope Conon (686–687)
- Pope John VI (655–705)
Roman and Byzantine Syria
These popes hail from Roman and Byzantine Syria, which today can be found in parts of modern-day Syria
- Pope Anicetus (c. 154–167)
- Pope John V (685–686)
- Pope Sisinnius (708)
- Pope Constantine (708–715)
- Pope Gregory III (731–741)
