Cardinals from around the world are gathering in Rome ahead of a May 7 conclave to elect the next head of the Catholic Church. The upcoming selection follows a recent shift in papal history, with the last three pontiffs coming from outside Italy, marking a departure from centuries of tradition.
Historically, the vast majority of popes were born in Italy. Of the 266 men recognized from St. Peter through Pope Francis, 212 were Italian natives, according to historical data on papal homelands.
The recent streak of non-Italian popes — John Paul II from Poland, Benedict XVI from Germany, and Francis from Argentina — is historically unusual. This period, beginning in 1978, is the longest consecutive run of non-Italians since the 14th century Avignon Papacy when seven popes reigned from France. Before 1978, the papacy had been held exclusively by Italians for 455 years.
The composition of the College of Cardinals today is geographically diverse, the most varied in history. This global representation influences speculation about the next pope. An unofficial but authoritative list of potential candidates, known as papabile, includes only a small number of Italian cardinals.
Among those discussed as potential candidates is Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna. Other prominent names mentioned include Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, representing a liberal perspective, and Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea, often associated with more conservative views.
The question of whether the Church will see an African pope is also part of the discussion. While at least two early popes, St. Victor I and St. Miltiades, were born in the Roman Province of Africa, the continent has not produced a pope in over 1,500 years. Today, Africa is a growing region for Catholicism, and figures like Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo are considered papabile.
The history of papal birthplaces reflects the areas of the world most connected with Rome and active in the Church's life. The current conclave takes place at a time when the Church's reach and the College of Cardinals' makeup are wider than ever before.
