After the Easter weekend, I woke up this morning to the report that Pope Francis had died. Growing up Catholic and attending Catholic school all the way through 12th grade, it was always a big deal when a Pope passed and we learned about the conclave and the secret chamber of voting. During my childhood, I only vaguely remember when Pope John Paul I passed just 33 days into his tenure as Pope. Oddly enough, 33 days was only the 11th shortest tenure as Pope.
The list of the 11 shortest-reigning popes[1] includes:
- Pope Urban VII (September 15–September 27, 1590):[11] reigned for 13 calendar days,[a] died before consecration.
- Pope Boniface VI (April, 896):[12] reigned for 16 calendar days
- Pope Celestine IV (October 25–November 10, 1241):[13] reigned for 17 calendar days, died before consecration.
- Pope Theodore II (December, 897):[14] reigned for 20 calendar days
- Pope Sisinnius (January 15–February 4, 708):[15] reigned for 21 calendar days
- Pope Marcellus II (April 9–May 1, 1555):[16] reigned for 22 calendar days
- Pope Damasus II (July 17–August 9, 1048):[17] reigned for 24 calendar days
- Pope Pius III (September 22–October 18, 1503):[18] reigned for 27 calendar days.
- Pope Leo XI (April 1–April 27, 1605):[19] reigned for 27 calendar days
- Pope Benedict V (May 22–June 23, 964):[20] reigned for 33 calendar days.
- Pope John Paul I (August 26–September 28, 1978): reigned for 33 calendar days.[
Then there was Pope John Paul II….who is pretty much all I remember going through school because he was literally there for those years and beyond. Over 26 years..and was the 3rd longest tenured Pope of all time behind Pope Pius IX and Saint Peter himself! That’s quite the exclusive list.
- Saint Peter (30–64 AD or 33–67 AD): 34 years.
- Pope Pius IX (1846–1878):[2] 31 years, 7 months and 23 days (11,560 days).
- Pope John Paul II (1978–2005): 26 years, 5 months and 17 days (9,665 days)
- Pope Leo XIII (1878–1903):[3] 25 years, 5 months and 1 day (9,281 days).
- Pope Pius VI (1775–1799):[4] 24 years, 6 months and 15 days (8,962 days).
- Pope Adrian I (772–795):[5] 23 years, 10 months and 25 days (8,729 days).
- Pope Pius VII (1800–1823):[6] 23 years, 5 months and 7 days (8,560 days).
- Pope Alexander III (1159–1181):[7] 21 years, 11 months and 24 days (8,029 days).
- Pope Sylvester I (314–335):[8] 21 years, 11 months and 1 day (8,005 days).
- Pope Leo I (440–461):[9] 21 years, 1 month, and 13 days. (7,713 days).
- Pope Urban VIII (1623–1644):[10] 20 years, 11 months and 24 days (7,664 days).
So with all that history thrown at you, welcome to 2025 where we now have betting odds on who will be the next Pope.
Luis Antonio Tagle, a Cardinal from the Philippines and a prominent figure within the Roman Curia, has steadily risen through the Vatican ranks, has odds at 7/4.
Pietro Parolin, currently the Vatican’s Secretary of State, is known for his diplomatic acumen and close working relationship with Pope Francis. His odds are 6/4.
I’m just passing along the numbers regardless of how sacrilegious it may seem.
In all honesty though, this is a part of history. If you have a moment over the next several days, take a look and see whether the smoke coming out of the chimney at the Vatican is black (meaning no new Pope has been chosen yet) or white smoke (we have a new Pope). Rest in Peace, Pope Francis.
