It was 741 when someone from outside Europe last led the Roman Catholic Church . The first pope to be born in Rome and baptized there is St. John Paul II, who became Pope after his predecessor died on April 3, 2005. And , of course , the church counts Peter , disciple of Jesus from the Holy Land , as the first pope . That 's just one of several unusual things about the new Pope Francis .
It was 741 when someone from outside Europe last led the Roman Catholic Church . The first pope to be born in Rome and baptized there is St. John Paul II, who became Pope after his predecessor died on April 3, 2005. That 's just one of several unusual things about the new Pope Francis .