How Many English Popes Have There Been?

Pope Adrian IV, who held the papacy from 1154-1159, remains the only Englishman ever to have become the Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. He was born in Hertfordshire and was named Nicholas Breakspear. His father, Robert, was a priest of the Bath Diocese and later became a monk.

Nicholas was refused entry into St. Alban's Monastery and, instead, went to Paris and became an Augustinian. After becoming Abbot of his monastery, he was bought to the attention of Pope Eugene III, who made him Cardinal of Albano. On 4 December 1154, he was elected Pope and succeeded Anastasius IV. One of Adrian's main objectives was to try to unite the eastern and western churches. His conditions for a union were that he would be recognised as having religious authority over all Christians worldwide, and the Emperor would be recognised for his secular authority. Neither the east nor west could accept this. The two churches have remained divided ever since.  

One