List: Countries with the most, fewest popes

New pope: American Robert Prevost, Pope Leo XIV

A new pope has been named in the Vatican as the 2025 conclave comes to a close. An American Cardinal, from Chicago, Robert Prevost, Pope Leo XIV is the new pope.

VATICAN CITY - The papacy, one of the world’s oldest religious offices, has a history that stretches back more than 2,000 years, with over 260 popes having led the Catholic Church since the time of Saint Peter. 

While the position is rooted in religious authority rather than nationality, a closer look at history shows that some countries have produced far more popes than others.

Here’s a look at the countries with the most, and fewest, popes throughout history.

Which country has had the most popes?

By the numbers:

Given that Italy is the home to the Vatican, it should come as no surprise that the overwhelming majority of popes have come from Italy. 

The country has produced a total of 217 popes during the life of the Catholic religion, with many coming from Rome and surrounding regions. 

People gather as newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost appears at the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica for the first time, after the cardinals ended the conclave, in The Vatican, on May 8, 2025. (Credit: ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP

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While Italy has led the way, several other countries have also had representation in the papacy including France, a distant second, with 16 popes. Germany has also had 8 popes with, most recently, Pope Benedict XVI from 2005–2013.

Countries with fewest popes

Meanwhile, many modern nations, especially those outside Europe, have never had a pope. 

This includes countries across Asia and Africa where Catholicism either developed later or may remain a minority religion.

List of countries with popes

Robert Prevost becomes 1st pope from US

Dig deeper:

On Thursday, Pope Leo XIV overcame a historic taboo to become the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church. 

Cardinal Robert Prevost, 69, was elected as the 267th pope in the third round of voting by the College of Cardinals. 

RELATED: First American pope: The world reacts

A Chicago native, Leo XIV is also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop. 

Pope Francis brought Robert Prevost to the Vatican in 2023 as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church.