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List of popes by length of reign facts for kids

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Popepiusix
Pius IX reigned for 31 years, 7 months, and 23 days (11,560 days) from 1846 to 1878.

The List of popes by length of reign is parsed using two organizing standards—identifying the longest reigns and the shortest ones.

Popes

The term pope is the name several churches give to their highest spiritual leader. In English, the term usually means the head of the Roman Catholic Church. The most accurate information about the popes is published every year by the Vatican in the Annuario Pontificio.

Popes with the longest reigns

After Peter, who was the first Bishop of Rome and the first pope, the list of the 10 longest-reigning popes includes:

    Saint Peter (30–64 or 67): 34 or 37 years.
  1. Bl. Pius IX (1846–1878): 31 years, 7 months and 23 days (11,560 days).
  2. St. John Paul II (1978–2005): 26 years, 5 months and 18 days (9,665 days).
  3. Leo XIII (1878–1903): 25 years, 5 months and 1 day (9,281 days).
  4. Pius VI (1775–1799): 24 years, 6 months and 15 days (8,962 days).
  5. Adrian I (772–795): 23 years, 10 months and 25 days (8,729 days).
  6. Pius VII (1800–1823): 23 years, 5 months and 7 days (8,560 days).
  7. Alexander III (1159–1181): 21 years, 11 months and 24 days (8,029 days).
  8. St. Sylvester I (314–335): 21 years, 11 months and 1 day (8,005 days).
  9. St. Leo I (440–461): 21 years, 1 month, and 13 days. (7,713 days).
  10. Urban VIII (1623–1644): 20 years, 11 months and 24 days (7,664 days).

Popes with the shortest reigns

The list of the 11 shortest-reigning popes includes:

  1. Urban VII (September 15–September 27, 1590): reigned for 13 calendar days, died before consecration.
  2. Boniface VI (April, 896): reigned for 16 calendar days
  3. Celestine IV (October 25–November 10, 1241): reigned for 17 calendar days, died before consecration.
  4. Theodore II (December, 897): reigned for 20 calendar days
  5. Sisinnius (January 15–February 4, 708): reigned for 21 calendar days
  6. Marcellus II (April 9–May 1, 1555): reigned for 22 calendar days
  7. Damasus II (July 17–August 9, 1048): reigned for 24 calendar days
  8. Pius III (September 22–October 18, 1503): reigned for 27 calendar days.
  9. Leo XI (April 1–April 27, 1605): reigned for 27 calendar days
  10. Benedict V (May 22–June 23, 964): reigned for 33 calendar days.
  11. John Paul I (August 26–September 28, 1978): reigned for 33 calendar days.
Emblem of the Papacy SE
Emblem of the Holy See

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    Pope Urban VII, the shortest-reigning pope

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