Written by Michael Whaley
In the midst of the papal conclave to choose the successor to Pope Francis, many might wonder where past leaders of the Roman Catholic church called home before the Vatican. While the large majority hailed from Europe, most of whom came from Italy, there were notable exceptions. In fact, until the election of Pope Francis in 2013, the last non-European pope in history was Syrian. Pope Gregory III was selected pope in 731 AD, nearly 1,300 years before Francis. This remarkable chapter of history offers yet another reason why Syria is one of the world’s most culturally layered travel destinations.
Syria is one of Christianity’s oldest heartlands. It was on Syrian soil that the Apostle Paul experienced his famous conversion on the road to Damascus in the House of Ananias, and it was from Antioch that early Christian missionaries spread their message across the Roman Empire. This deep spiritual heritage shaped some of the greatest early Christian thinkers, bishops—and eventually, popes.
Meet the Syrian Popes
1. Pope Sisinnius (708 AD)
Born in Syria, Pope Sisinnius led the Catholic Church for just 20 days before illness cut his reign short. Still, his election reflected the high regard for Syrian clergy in Rome at the time.
2. Pope Constantine I (708–715 AD)
A true bridge between East and West, Constantine I was born in Syria and was one of the last popes fluent in Greek. He journeyed all the way to Constantinople to negotiate with Emperor Justinian II—a rare and bold diplomatic mission. His papacy helped ease tensions between the Eastern and Western churches at a time of theological strife.
3. Pope Gregory III (731–741 AD)
Born in Syria and educated in both Eastern and Western Christian traditions, Gregory III was a deeply influential pope. He is remembered for his defense of religious art during the iconoclast controversy and for initiating the Church’s alliance with the Frankish kingdom. After his death in 741 AD, it would be another 1,272 years before another non-European—Pope Francis of Argentina—would be elected in 2013.
This extraordinary papal legacy underscores Syria’s historical importance—not just as a regional power, but as a global influencer in faith and diplomacy. For culturally curious travelers, it adds another layer to Syria’s rich narrative.
Written by Michael Whaley
Michael Whaley, a passionate traveler and wine enthusiast, joined one of our Syria tours and was inspired to write about the country’s papal legacy. He is the founder of Still Point Imports, a Tennessee-based wine company supporting diversity in the industry.