Technically, all the martyrdoms of the early popes (the first 25 or so) were high level public assassinations.
During the Middle Ages, political and inter-Church struggles saw some popes murdered or die under suspicious circumstances, such as poisonings or strangulation. You can follow the link below for a related article.
In modern times there are some that hold that John Paul I was poisoned, though this has not been confirmed. John Paul II survived an assassination attempt in May of 1981.
There have been about 15 popes assassinated over the years. This number does not include quite a large number of very early popes who were martyred before Constantine the Great legalized Christianity. Nor does it include Pope John Paul I who died under mysterious circumstances that many think was an assassination.
The 15 popes that have been either murdered or rumored murdered...
John VIII (872-882): Poisoned and clubbed to death
Adrian III, St. (884-885): Rumored poisoned
Stephen VI (896-897): Strangled
Leo V (903): Murdered
John X (914-928): Suffocated under a pillow
Stephen VII (VIII) (928-931): Possibly murdered
Stephen VIII (IX) (939-942): Mutilated and died from injuries
John XII (955-964): Suffered a stroke while with a mistress
or murdered by an outraged husband
Benedict VI (973-974): Strangled by a priest
John XIV (983-984): Starved to death or poisoned
Gregory V (996-999): Rumored poisoned, probably malaria
Sergius IV (1009-1012): Possibly murdered
Clement II (1046-1047): Rumored poisoned
Damasus II (1048): Rumored murdered
Boniface VIII (1294-1303): Died from abuse received while a
captive of the French in Anagni
No, only about 23, according to theologan Jim Frames, expert of the Papacy dating back to the Catholic Church's origin. no. here is a list of the popes who have died a less than natural death: John VIII (872-882): Poisoned and clubbed to death
Adrian III, St. (884-885): Rumored poisoned
Stephen VI (896-897): Strangled
Leo V (903): Murdered
John X (914-928): Suffocated under a pillow
Stephen VII (VIII) (928-931): Possibly murdered
Stephen VIII (IX) (939-942): Mutilated and died from injuries
John XII (955-964): Suffered a stroke while with a mistress
or murdered by an outraged husband
Benedict VI (973-974): Strangled by a priest
John XIV (983-984): Starved to death or poisoned
Gregory V (996-999): Rumored poisoned, probably malaria
Sergius IV (1009-1012): Possibly murdered
Clement II (1046-1047): Rumored poisoned
Damasus II (1048): Rumored murdered
Boniface VIII (1294-1303): Died from abuse received while a
captive of the French in Anagni
The following is a list of popes alleged to have been murdered. The list does not include popes who died as martyrs.
Chronological list of popes murdered
As of 2014, there have been 266 popes. Of these, Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI are still alive. That works out to 264 popes who have died.
No popes have been assassinated since the year 2000. (as of December 31, 2014)
33 of 265
264
Popes have been around since the days of Saint Peter. They did not use the title of pope until many years later, however, but there has always been a man in the position as leader of Christianity.
There have been popes for nearly the last 2000 years.
There have been a total of 265 popes including Peter.
Including Peter and the current pope, Francis, there have been 266 popes.
Actually, there have been several popes who had attempts on their lives. The most recent and best know was Pope John Paul II.
Most, but not all, popes elected since 1378 have been Italian.
As of 2014 there have been 3 popes - Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis..
No pope has been a king. However, since the Vatican became an independent country in 1929 he is considered as the monarch, or sole ruler, of the city/state.
There have been 12 popes who have taken Pius as their name.
Answer 1In the Roman Catholic Church - None. There has never been a Pope from outside of Europe and the Spanish Popes were from non-Arab nobility of Northern Spanish stock. While there may have been Popes in the pre-Islamic Period that came from North African, Levantine and Mesopotamian regions, these individuals would not have been Arabs since prior to the Rise of Islam, these areas did not "Arabize". Since the 600s C.E., no Pope has come from the Arab World.In the Coptic Church - All (since the Arab arrival in Egypt in the mid 600s CE). All Coptic Popes have been Egyptian and thus consider themselves Arabs.
Pope Benedict XVI is the 265th pope.
There have been 217 Italian popes and only 49 non-Italian popes.