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Foreign Popes Trivia Quiz

John Paul II was the first non-Italian pope for many centuries. His successor, Benedict XVI, is also of foreign origin. Find out more about their predecessors in Rome.

A multiple-choice quiz by beatka. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
beatka

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
208,583

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
647

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Benedict XVI is the second non-Italian pope in the row. What nationality was the last pope of foreign origin before John Paul II? Hint

German

Dutch

English

Greek

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Question 2 of 10

2. Karol Wojtyla, who would later become Pope John Paul II, was born in which Polish town? Hint

Krakow

Warszawa

Katowice

Wadowice

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Question 3 of 10

3. How many Slavic popes were there in the history of the Catholic Church (till the year 2005)? Hint

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Question 4 of 10

4. Alexander VI, a 15th-century pope, was a member of which notorious family?

Answer: (6 letters)

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Question 5 of 10

5. Joseph Ratzinger is the seventh pope of German origin in the history of the papacy. But who was the first? Hint

Sylvester II

Leo IX

Gregory V

Adrian VI

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Question 6 of 10

6. Were there any African popes?

Yes

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which German pope was later canonized? Hint

Leo IX

Stephen IX

Gregory V

Clement II

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Question 8 of 10

8. Popes from which country dominated the Church during the so-called Avignon period? Hint

Germany

France

Italy

Greece

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Question 9 of 10

9. Who was the first and only English pope? Hint

Paul III

Adrian VI

Adrian IV

Stephen II

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which French pope was such a well learnt scholar that he was believed to be a sorcerer, in league with the devil? Hint

Urban V

Clement V

Sylvester II

Jean XXII

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Dec 20 2024 : Guest 159: 3/10
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Benedict XVI is the second non-Italian pope in the row. What nationality was the last pope of foreign origin before John Paul II?

Answer: Dutch

Adrian VI was a Dutchman, even if some count him among the German popes. He was born in Utrecht, which at that time belonged to the Holy Roman Empire. He was pope for a short time, from January 1522 till September 1523.

2. Karol Wojtyla, who would later become Pope John Paul II, was born in which Polish town?

Answer: Wadowice

Wadowice is a town in southern Poland, 50 km from Krakow. Karol Wojtyla was born there on May 18, 1920. He died in Rome, on April 2, 2005.

3. How many Slavic popes were there in the history of the Catholic Church (till the year 2005)?

Answer: 1

There was only one Slavic pope: John Paul II (1978 - 2005) from Poland. The papacy of John Paul II was one of the longest and most important in history.

4. Alexander VI, a 15th-century pope, was a member of which notorious family?

Answer: Borgia

The Borgias were an Italian family of Spanish origin. Two popes came from this family: Callistus III (Alfonso Borgia) and Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia, his nephew). Rodrigo Borgia was the father of nine children, among them the infamous Lucrezia Borgia.

5. Joseph Ratzinger is the seventh pope of German origin in the history of the papacy. But who was the first?

Answer: Gregory V

Gregory V was appointed pope in 996 by the Holy Roman Emperor Otto III, his cousin. He reigned only three years. He was succeeded by his tutor, a famous scholar, who became the first French pope under the name of Sylvester II.

6. Were there any African popes?

Answer: yes

There were three African Popes who came from North Africa. However, there is no evidence that they were black. Their names are: Victor (183-203), Gelasius (492-496), and Mechiades or Militiades (311-314). All of them became saints.

7. Which German pope was later canonized?

Answer: Leo IX

Leo IX (1049-1054) was a nobleman from Alsace (today France). He became known for his fight against simony (the sale of clerical positions).

8. Popes from which country dominated the Church during the so-called Avignon period?

Answer: France

All seven popes during the period (1305-1378) were French. The whole period was characterized by financial corruption. It was Clement V who moved the papal court to the city of Avignon. In 1378 the seat was moved back to Rome.

9. Who was the first and only English pope?

Answer: Adrian IV

Adrian IV was pope between 1154-59. He allegedly donated Ireland to Henry II of England. He crowned Frederick I (nicknamed Frederick Barbarossa) as Holy Roman Emperor in 1155 in Rome.

10. Which French pope was such a well learnt scholar that he was believed to be a sorcerer, in league with the devil?

Answer: Sylvester II

Sylvester II (999-1003) was the first French pope, who succeeded Gregory V. Widely educated, he studied mathematics and astronomy at Arab schools in Spain. On May 12, 2003 - the 1,000th anniversary of his death - began the year-long celebration of Pope Sylvester as an ideal of the "European man."

Source: Author beatka

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor fringe before going online.
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