The statistic shows the popes of the Catholic church who served most years. Pope Pius IX had the longest papacy of about 31 years and 8 months (1846-1878). The papacy of the first pope Peter has not been included here, because of the lack of data on his life.
On February 11, 2013 pope Benedict XVI announced that he will resign his office on February 28, 2013.
Popes with the longest papacies, as of February 2013
Characteristic
Years
Months
Pius IX (1846-1878)
31
8
John Paul II (1978-2005)
26
5
Leo XIII (1878-1903)
25
5
Pius VI (1775-1799)
24
6
Hadrian I (772-795)
23
11
Pius VII (1800-1823)
23
5
Alexander III (1159-1181)
22
-
Silvester I (314-335)
21
11
Leo I (440-461)
21
1
Urban VIII (1623-1644)
21
-
Leo III (795-816)
20
6
Clement XI (1700-1721)
20
4
Pius XII (1939-1958)
19
7
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Holy See. (February 11, 2013). Popes with the longest papacies, as of February 2013 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved April 08, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/252111/popes-with-the-longest-papacies/
Holy See. "Popes with the longest papacies, as of February 2013." Chart. February 11, 2013. Statista. Accessed April 08, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/252111/popes-with-the-longest-papacies/
Holy See. (2013). Popes with the longest papacies, as of February 2013. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: April 08, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/252111/popes-with-the-longest-papacies/
Holy See. "Popes with The Longest Papacies, as of February 2013." Statista, Statista Inc., 11 Feb 2013, https://www.statista.com/statistics/252111/popes-with-the-longest-papacies/
Holy See, Popes with the longest papacies, as of February 2013 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/252111/popes-with-the-longest-papacies/ (last visited April 08, 2025)
Popes with the longest papacies, as of February 2013 [Graph], Holy See, February 11, 2013. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/252111/popes-with-the-longest-papacies/
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