The first non-Italian pope was St. Peter (32-57), who was an Israeli Jew, the last non-Italian Pope before John Paul II was Adrian VI (1522-23) who was Dutch and the only Pope in modern times, save Marcellus II (1555) to keep his baptismal name. John Paul II (1978-2005) was the first Polish Pope, and the first non-Italian pope since Adrian VI.
Pope Adrian VI (2 March 1459 - 14 September 1523) the Dutch Pope. He also is one of very few popes who used his given name.
He was the first non-Italian pope to be elected in about 450 years.
Pope St. John Paul II was the first and, to date, only pope from Poland.
Karol Józef Wojtył, also known as Pope John Paul II.
He was pope nearly 25 years.
John Paul II was born and raised in Poland.
One, it was Pope John Paul II (Cardinal Karol Wojtyla) who was the first non-Italian in four hundred years and only Polish citizen to be elected to the papacy.
Pope John Paul II was the only Polish pope but he died in 2005.
Pope John Paul I was Italian but Pope John Paul II was Polish.
Pope Benedict XVI was actually German.
German.
The current pope, Francis, is from Argentina. Pope Benedict, his predecessor, was German. Pope John Paul II was Polish.