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Every Pope ever: the full list | News | theguardian.com

Every Pope ever: the full list

Benedict XVI surprised the world in announcing his resignation - the first in six centuries' time. But which Pope held the longest Pontificate or was the youngest at the start of papacy? How many Pontiffs are originally from Italy? Get the full data history of the Pope
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Pope Francis elected
Pope Francis elected: how does he fit in? A nun looks at front pages showing newly elected Pope at a newsstand near the Vatican. Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who chose the name of Pope Francis, was elected the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church on Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Photograph: Emilio Morenatti/AP

Pope Francis is a Pope of firsts: first Francis and first Pope from Latin America. He's also the first pope in 600 years to take office after one who has resigned: Pope Benedict XVI shocked the Catholic world when he resigned.

But which Pope has held the longest term of office and what is the average age at the start of papacy? How many sovereign pontiffs are originally from Italy?

The last time a pope resigned was in 1415 - when Gregory XII ended the Great Western Schism by handing in his tiara.

What can we learn from this data? Of the 266 Popes listed below, 88 came from Rome and the majority (196) came from Italy. Gregory V (3 May 996 - 18 February 999) was the first German Pope before Benedict XVI. And Sylvester II who succeeded him in 999 was French. Adrian IV (4 December 1154 - 1 September 1159) from Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire, was the first and only English Pope. Francis is the first and only Argentinian Pope.

Pius IX (1846-1878) held the pontificate for 31 years, 7 months and 23 days. John Paul II comes right after with 26 years, 5 months and 18 days in power. At the bottom of the ranking comes Urban VII (15-27 September 1590) who reigned for only 13 days and died before coronation. John Paul I (26 August – 28 September 1978) only reigned for 33 calendar days.

Pope-elect Stephen II (23 March 752 - 25 March 752) never held his Pontificate. He died three days after his election and was never consecrated into the office of Pope as such. Some lists still include his name. The Vatican sanctioned his addition to the list of popes in the sixteenth century, however he was removed in 1961. He is no longer considered a pope by the Catholic Church.

Clement X (29 April 1670 - 22 July 1676) is the oldest elected Pope. He started his Pontificate at the age of 79. Benedict XVI has been elected at the age of 78. He is the 7th oldest Pope at the time of election. Another Clement named Pope Clement XI (23 November 1700 - 19 March 1721) is the youngest of the list. He has been elected at the age of 51.

Leo XIII (1878) reached the Canonic age of 93 years old when he died He is the oldest in the whole history of Papacy. The average age at the time of election is 65. 78 is the most common age to die, the average for holding power is 2,451 days - or 7 years.

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Data summary

All the popes - full list

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Start year
End year
Number of days of Pontificate (max)
English name
Place of birth
Age at start of papacy
Age at end of papacy
2013     Francis I Buenos Aires 76  
2005 2013 2,870 Benedict XVI Marktl am Inn, Bavaria, Germany 78 85
1978 2005 9,658 Ven. John Paul II (John Paul the Great) Wadowice, Poland 58 84
1978 1978 33 Servant of God John Paul I Forno di Canale, Veneto, Italy 65 65
1963 1978 5,521 Servant of God Paul VI Concesio, Brescia, Italy 65 80
1958 1963 1,678 Bd. John XXIII Sotto il Monte, Bergamo, Italy 76 81
1939 1958 7,156 Ven. Pius XII Rome, Italy 63 82
1922 1939 6,209 Pius XI Desio, Lombardy-Venetia, Austrian Empire 64 81
1914 1922 2,696 Benedict XV Genoa, Kingdom of Sardinia 59 67
1903 1914 4,031 St. Pius X Riese, Lombardy-Venetia, Austrian Empire 68 79
1878 1903 9,275 Leo XIII, O.F.S. Carpineto Romano, Rome departement, French Empire (now Italy) 67 93
1846 1878 11,465 Bd. Pius IX, O.F.S. Senigallia, Marche, Papal States 54 85
1831 1846 5,594 Gregory XVI, O.S.B. Cam. Belluno, Republic of Venice 65 80
1829 1830 610 Pius VIII Cingoli, Marche, Papal States 67 69
1823 1829 1,960 Leo XII Genga or Spoleto, Papal States 63 68
1800 1823 8,554 Pius VII, O.S.B. Cesena, Papal States 57 81
1775 1799 8,955 Pius VI Cesena, Papal States 57 81
1769 1774 1,951 Clement XIV, O.F.M. Sant' Arcangelo di Romagna, Papal States 63 68
1758 1769 3,861 Clement XIII Venice, Republic of Venice 65 75
1740 1758 6,464 Benedict XIV Bologna, Papal States 65 83
1730 1740 3,494 Clement XII Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany 78 87
1724 1730 2,093 Benedict XIII, O.P. Gravina in Puglia, Kingdom of Naples 75 81
1721 1724 1,032 Innocent XIII Poli, Lazio, Papal States 65 68
1700 1721 7,416 Clement XI Urbino, Marche, Papal States 51 71
1691 1700 3,362 Innocent XII Spinazzola, Kingdom of Naples 76 85
1689 1691 483 Alexander VIII Venice, Republic of Venice 79 80
1676 1689 4,705 Bd. Innocent XI Como, Duchy of Milan 65 78
1670 1676 2,274 Clement X Rome, Papal States 79 86
1667 1669 902 Clement IX Pistoia, Grand Duchy of Tuscany 67 69
1655 1667 4,425 Alexander VII Siena, Grand Duchy of Tuscany 56 68
1644 1655 3,764 Innocent X Rome, Papal States 70 80
1623 1644 7,658 Urban VIII Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany 55 76
1621 1623 879 Gregory XV Bologna, Papal States 67 69
1605 1605 26 Leo XI Florence, Duchy of Florence 69 69
1605 1621 5,732 Paul V Rome, Papal States 52 68
1592 1605 4,777 Clement VIII Fano, Marche, Papal States 55 69
1591 1591 62 Innocent IX Bologna, Papal States 72 72
1590 1590 12 Urban VII Rome, Papal States 69 69
1590 1591 315 Gregory XIV Somma Lombardo, Duchy of Milan 55 56
1585 1590 1,950 Sixtus V, O.F.M. Conv. Grottammare, Marche, Papal States 63 68
1572 1585 4,712 Gregory XIII Bologna, Papal States 70 83
1566 1572 2,305 St. Pius V, O.P. Bosco, Duchy of Milan 61 68
1559 1565 2,073 Pius IV Milan, Duchy of Milan 60 66
1555 1555 22 Marcellus II Montefano, Marche, Papal States 53 53
1555 1559 1,547 Paul IV, C.R. Capriglia Irpina, Campania, Kingdom of Naples 78 83
1550 1555 1,875 Julius III Rome, Papal States 62 67
1534 1549 5,503 Paul III Canino, Lazio, Papal States 66 81
1523 1534 3,953 Clement VII Florence, Republic of Florence 45 56
1522 1523 613 Adrian VI Papa HADRIANUS Sextus Utrecht, Bishopric of Utrecht, Holy Roman Empire (presently The Netherlands 62 64
1513 1521 3,187 Leo X Florence, Republic of Florence 37 45
1503 1503 26 Pius III Siena, Republic of Siena 64 64
1503 1513 7,048 Julius II Albisola, Republic of Genoa 59 59
1492 1503 4,022 Alexander VI Xativa, Kingdom of Valencia, Crown of Aragon 61 72
1484 1492 2,886 Innocent VIII Genoa, Republic of Genoa 51 59
1471 1484 4,748 Sixtus IV, O.F.M. Celle Ligure, Republic of Genoa 57 70
1464 1471 2,520 Paul II Venice, Republic of Venice 47 54
1458 1464 2,187 Pius II Corsignano, Republic of Siena 52 58
1455 1458 1,457 Callixtus III Xativa, Kingdom of Valencia, Crown of Aragon 76 79
1447 1455 6,588 Nicholas V Sarzana, Republic of Genoa 49 57
1431 1447 5,832 Eugene IV, O.S.A. Venice, Republic of Venice 47 63
1417 1431 4,846 Martin V Genazzano, Papal States 48 62
1406 1415 3,136   Venice, Republic of Venice 60 69
1404 1406 750 Innocent VII Sulmona, Kingdom of Naples 65 67
1389 1404 5,444 Boniface IX Naples, Kingdom of Naples n.a n.a
1378 1389 4,205 Urban VI Naples, Kingdom of Naples n.a n.a
1362 1370 3,002 Bd. Urban V, O.S.B. Grizac, Languedoc, France n.a n.a
1352 1362 3,553 Innocent VI Les Monts, Limousin, France n.a n.a
1342 1352 3,863 Clement VI, O.S.B. Maumont, Limousin, France n.a n.a
1334 1342 2,681 Benedict XII, O.Cist. Saverdun, County of Foix, France n.a n.a
1316 1334 6,689 John XXII Cahors, Quercy, France n.a n.a
1314 1316 730 interregnum   n.a n.a
1305 1314 1,779 Clement V Villandraut, Gascony, France n.a n.a
1303 1304 259 Bd. Benedict XI, O.P. Treviso, Italy, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1294 1294 223 St. Celestine V, O.S.B. Sant' Angelo Limosano, Kingdom of Sicily n.a n.a
1294 1303 2,920 Boniface VIII Anagni, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1292 1294 730 interregnum   n.a n.a
1288 1292 1,460 Nicholas IV, O.F.M. Lisciano, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1285 1287 730 Honorius IV Rome, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1281 1285 1,460 Martin IV Meinpicien, Touraine, France n.a n.a
1277 1280 730 Nicholas III Rome, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1276 1276 151 Bd. Innocent V, O.P. County of Savoy, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1276 1276 38 Adrian V Genoa, Republic of Genoa, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1276 1277 263 John XXI Lisbon, Portugal n.a n.a
1271 1276 1,460 Bd. Gregory X Piacenza, Italy, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1265 1268 1,095 Clement IV Saint-Gilles, Languedoc, France n.a n.a
1261 1264 1,095 Urban IV Troyes, County of Champagne, France n.a n.a
1254 1261 2,190 Alexander IV Jenne, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1243 1254 4,015 Innocent IV Genoa, Republic of Genoa, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1241 1241 17 Celestine IV Milan, Italy, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1227 1241 5,110 Gregory IX Anagni, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1216 1227 3,650 Honorius III Rome, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1198 1216 6,570 Innocent III Gavignano, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1191 1198 2,190 Celestine III Rome, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1187 1187 57 Gregory VIII, Can.Reg. Benevento, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1187 1191 1,095 Clement III Rome, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1185 1187 365 Urban III Cuggiono, Italy, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1181 1185 1,460 Lucius III Lucca, Italy, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1159 1181 7,665 Alexander III Siena, Italy, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1154 1159 1,460 Adrian IV, O.S.A. Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire, Kingdom of England n.a n.a
1153 1154 365 Anastasius IV Rome, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1145 1153 2,920 Bd. Eugene III, O.Cist. Pisa, Republic of Pisa, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1144 1145 340 Lucius II, Can.Reg. Bologna, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1143 1144 164 Celestine II Citta di Castello, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1130 1143 4,745 Innocent II, Can.Reg. Rome, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1124 1130 1,825 Honorius II, Can.Reg. Fiagnano, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1119 1124 1,825 Callixtus II Quingey, County of Burgundy, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1118 1119 365 Gelasius II, O.S.B. Gaeta, Principality of Capua n.a n.a
1099 1118 4,015 Paschal II, O.S.B. Bleda, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1088 1099 365 Bd. Urban II, O.S.B. Lagery, County of Champagne, France n.a n.a
1086 1087 365 Bd. Victor III, O.S.B. Benevento, Duchy of Benevento n.a n.a
1073 1085 4,380 St. Gregory VII, O.S.B. Sovana, Italy, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1061 1073 4,015 Alexander II Milan, Italy, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1058 1061 730 Nicholas II Chateau de Chevron, Kingdom of Arles n.a n.a
1057 1058 241 Stephen IX (Stephen X), O.S.B. Duchy of Lorraine, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1055 1057 730 Victor II Kingdom of Germany, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1049 1054 1,825 St. Leo IX Eguisheim, Swabia, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1048 1048 23 Damasus II Pildenau, Duchy of Bavaria, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1047 1048 365 Benedict IX Rome, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1046 1047 289 Clement II Hornburg, Duchy of Saxony, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1045 1045 365 Sylvester III Rome, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1045 1045 365 Benedict IX Rome, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1045 1046 365 Gregory VI Rome, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1032 1044 4,380 Benedict IX Rome, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1024 1032 2,920 John XIX Rome, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1012 1024 4,015 Benedict VIII Rome, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1009 1012 730 Sergius IV Rome, Papal States, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
1003 1003 214 John XVII Rome, Papal States n.a n.a
1003 1009 1,460 John XVIII Rapagnano, Papal States n.a n.a
999 1003 1,460 Sylvester II Auvergne region of France n.a n.a
996 999 730 Gregory V Germany, Holy Roman Empire n.a n.a
985 996 3,650 John XV Rome n.a n.a
983 984 262 John XIV Pavia n.a n.a
974 983 2,920 Benedict VII Rome n.a n.a
973 974 365 Benedict VI Rome, Papal States n.a n.a
965 972 2,190 John XIII Rome n.a n.a
964 964 30 Benedict V Rome n.a n.a
964 965 242 Leo VIII Rome n.a n.a
955 964 2,920 John XII Rome n.a n.a
946 955 3,285 Agapetus II Rome n.a n.a
942 946 1,095 Marinus II Rome n.a n.a
939 942 1,095 Stephen VIII (Stephen IX) Germany n.a n.a
936 939 1,095 Leo VII, O.S.B.   n.a n.a
931 935 1,460 John XI Rome n.a n.a
928 928 245 Leo VI Rome n.a n.a
928 931 730 Stephen VII (Stephen VIII) Rome n.a n.a
914 928 5,110 John X Romagna, Italy n.a n.a
913 914 200 Lando Sabina, Italy n.a n.a
911 913 730 Anastasius III Rome n.a n.a
904 911 2,555 Sergius III Rome n.a n.a
903 903 92 Leo V Ardea n.a n.a
900 903 1,095 Benedict IV Rome n.a n.a
898 900 730 John IX, O.S.B. Tivoli n.a n.a
897 897 122 Romanus Gallese, Rome n.a n.a
897 898 30 Theodore II Rome n.a n.a
896 896 15 Boniface VI Rome n.a n.a
896 897 365 Stephen VI (Stephen VII)   n.a n.a
891 896 1,460 Formosus Ostia n.a n.a
885 891 2,190 Stephen V (Stephen VI) Rome n.a n.a
884 885 365 St. Adrian III Rome n.a n.a
882 884 365 Marinus I Gallese, Rome n.a n.a
872 882 3,650 John VIII Rome n.a n.a
867 872 1,825 Adrian II Rome n.a n.a
858 867 3,285 St. Nicholas I (Nicholas the Great) Rome n.a n.a
855 858 1,095 Benedict III Rome n.a n.a
847 855 2,920 St. Leo IV, O.S.B. Rome n.a n.a
844 847 1,095 Sergius II Rome n.a n.a
827 827 30 Valentine Rome n.a n.a
827 844 6,205 Gregory IV Rome n.a n.a
824 827 1,095 Eugene II Rome n.a n.a
817 824 2,555 St. Paschal I Rome n.a n.a
816 817 226 Stephen IV (Stephen V)   n.a n.a
795 816 7,300 St. Leo III Rome n.a n.a
772 795 8,395 Adrian I Rome n.a n.a
767 772 1,460 Stephen III (Stephen IV) Sicily n.a n.a
757 767 3,650 St. Paul I Rome n.a n.a
752 752 0 Pope-elect Stephen   n.a n.a
752 757 1,825 Stephen II (Stephen III)   n.a n.a
741 752 3,650 St. Zachary Greece n.a n.a
731 741 3,650 Gregory III Syria n.a n.a
715 731 5,475 St. Gregory II Rome, Byzantine Empire n.a n.a
708 708 21 Sisinnius Syria n.a n.a
708 7015 2,555 Constantine Syria n.a n.a
705 708 730 John VII Greece n.a n.a
701 705 1,095 John VI Greece n.a n.a
687 701 4,745 St. Sergius I Sicily n.a n.a
686 687 335 Conon   n.a n.a
685 686 365 John V Syria n.a n.a
684 685 317 St. Benedict II Rome, Byzantine Empire n.a n.a
681 684 365 St. Leo II Sicily n.a n.a
678 681 730 St. Agatho Sicily n.a n.a
676 678 365 Donus Rome, Byzantine Empire n.a n.a
672 676 1,460 Adeodatus II, O.S.B. Rome, Byzantine Empire n.a n.a
657 672 5,110 St. Vitalian Segni, Byzantine Empire n.a n.a
654 657 730 St. Eugene I Rome n.a n.a
649 654 2,190 St. Martin I Near Todi, Umbria, Byzantine Empire n.a n.a
642 649 2,190 Theodore I Palestine n.a n.a
640 642 0 John IV Zadar, Dalmatia, now Croatia n.a n.a
638 640 365 Severinus Rome n.a n.a
625 638 4,380 Honorius I Campania, Byzantine Empire n.a n.a
619 625 1,825 Boniface V Naples n.a n.a
615 619 0 Adeodatus I (Deusdedit) Rome n.a n.a
608 615 2,190 St. Boniface IV, O.S.B. Marsi n.a n.a
607 608 267 Boniface III Rome n.a n.a
604 607 365 Sabinian Blera n.a n.a
590 604 4,745 St. Gregory I, O.S.B. (Gregory the Great) Rome n.a n.a
579 590 3,650 Pelagius II Rome n.a n.a
575 579 5,475 Benedict I   n.a n.a
561 575 4,380 John III Rome, Eastern Roman Empire n.a n.a
556 561 1,825 Pelagius I Rome n.a n.a
537 555 6,570 Vigilius Rome n.a n.a
536 537 365 St. Silverius   n.a n.a
535 536 346 St. Agapetus I (Agapitus) Rome, Ostrogothic Kingdom n.a n.a
533 535 730 John II Rome n.a n.a
530 533 730 Boniface II Rome to Ostrogoth parents n.a n.a
526 530 1,460 St. Felix IV (Felix III) Samnium n.a n.a
523 526 730 St. John I Tuscany n.a n.a
514 523 2,920 St. Hormisdas Frosinone, Southern Latium, Italy n.a n.a
498 514 5,475 St. Symmachus Sardinia n.a n.a
496 498 365 Anastasius II   n.a n.a
492 496 1,460 St. Gelasius I Africa n.a n.a
483 492 2,920 St. Felix III (Felix II) Rome n.a n.a
468 483 5,475 St. Simplicius Tivoli, Italy n.a n.a
461 468 2,190 St. Hilarius Sardinia, Western Roman Empire n.a n.a
440 461 7,665 St. Leo I (Leo the Great) Rome n.a n.a
432 440 2,920 St. Sixtus III   n.a n.a
422 432 3,285 St. Celestine I Rome, Western Roman Empire n.a n.a
418 422 1,095 St. Boniface I   n.a n.a
417 418 365 St. Zosimus   n.a n.a
401 417 5,475 St. Innocent I   n.a n.a
399 401 730 St. Anastasius I   n.a n.a
384 399 5,110 St. Siricius &nsp; n.a n.a
366 384 6,570 St. Damasus I Idanha-a-Velha, Portugal n.a n.a
352 366 5,110 Liberius &nsp; n.a n.a
337 352 5,475 St. Julius I Rome n.a n.a
336 337 263 St. Mark Rome n.a n.a
314 336 7,665 St. Sylvester I Sant'Angelo a Scala, Avellino n.a n.a
311 314 730 St. Miltiades (Melchiades) Africa n.a n.a
309 311 365 St. Eusebius   n.a n.a
308 309 365 St. Marcellus I   n.a n.a
296 308 2,555 St. Marcellinus   n.a n.a
283 296 4,380 St. Caius   n.a n.a
275 283 2,920 St. Eutychian   n.a n.a
269 274 1,825 St. Felix I Rome n.a n.a
259 268 3,285 St. Dionysius Greece n.a n.a
257 258 341 St. Sixtus II Greece n.a n.a
254 257 42 St. Stephen I Rome n.a n.a
253 254 256 St. Lucius I Rome n.a n.a
251 253 730 St. Cornelius   n.a n.a
236 250 5,110 St. Fabian Rome n.a n.a
235 236 44 St. Anterus Greece n.a n.a
230 235 1,825 St. Pontian Rome n.a n.a
222 230 2,920 St. Urban I Rome n.a n.a
217 222 2,190 St. Callixtus I Spain n.a n.a
199 217 6,570 St. Zephyrinus (Zephyrin) Rome n.a n.a
189 198 3,650 St. Victor I Northern Africa n.a n.a
174 189 5,475 St. Eleuterus Nicopoli, Epyrus n.a n.a
166 174 3,285 St. Soter Fondi, Latium, Italy n.a n.a
155 166 4,015 St. Anicetus Emesa, Syria n.a n.a
140 142 5,475 St. Pius I Aquileia, Friuli, Italy n.a n.a
136 140 1,460 St. Hyginus Greece n.a n.a
125 136 4,745 St. Telesphorus Greece n.a n.a
115 125 7,300 St. Sixtus I Rome or Greece n.a n.a
105 115 3,650 St. Alexander I Rome n.a n.a
97 105 2,920 St. Evaristus (Aristus) Bethlehem, Judea n.a n.a
88 97 ? St. Clement I Rome n.a n.a
76 92 4,380 St. Anacletus (Cletus) Probably Greece n.a n.a
64 76 4,380 St. Linus Tuscia (Central Tuscany) n.a n.a
30 64 13,505 St. Peter Bethsaida, Galilea n.a n.a
0 0 0     n.a n.a
0 0 0        

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