Pope Gregory III
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Pope Gregory III was the bishop of Rome from 11 February 731 to his death on 28 November 741. His pontificate, like that of his predecessor, was disturbed by Byzantine iconoclasm and the advance of th
Gregory III (seated high centre) blesses the mission of Willibald (kneeling right) to the Saxons. (Francesco Solimena, 1701–05)
Pope Francis
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Pope Francis was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 13 March 2013 until his death in 2025. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first Latin American, and the first pope bo
Pope Gregory III
…consent of the Byzantine exarch of Ravenna for his election, the last pope of Syrian origin, and the last pope born outside Europe until the election of Pope Francis 1,272 years later in 2013. Gregory was the son of a Syrian Christian named Ioannes, Yohannan or John. He was elected pope by popular acclamation on 11…
Francis in 2014
Pope Francis
Jorge Mario Bergoglio (fourth boy from the left in the third row from the top) at age 12, Salesian College (c. 1948–1949)
Bergoglio in 2008