List of popes facts for kids

This plaque lists the popes buried in St. Peter's Basilica. Their names are in Latin, followed by the year they were buried.

This is a list of all the popes of the Catholic Church. The list comes from the Annuario Pontificio, an official book published by the Church every year. It includes all the leaders recognized as true popes and points out others who are considered antipopes (rival claimants to the papacy).

The word "pope" comes from the Latin word papa, which means "father." It is used in English to refer to the leader of the Catholic Church. The pope has many traditional titles, like Summus Pontifex (Supreme Pontiff) and Servus servorum Dei (Servant of the servants of God). These titles were added over time due to important historical events.

Keeping track of the popes has been a long process. A historian named Hermannus Contractus might have been the first to number the popes in order, ending his list in 1049. Over the years, the list has been corrected. For example, a man named Christopher was once thought to be a real pope but was later removed. Also, Pope-elect Stephen was removed from the list in 1961 because he died before he could officially become pope.

Many popes on this list are considered saints. This includes 48 of the first 50 popes. Out of the first 31 popes, 28 were martyrs, meaning they died for their faith.

Chronological list of popes

This list shows the popes in the order they served. For the first few centuries, the exact dates are hard to know for sure. The information becomes more certain after the year 222.

Popes Through the Centuries

Early Popes: 1st to 4th Centuries

The exact timeline for the very first popes is debated. The earliest lists of popes were written much later. The first clear dates we have are for the elections of Urban I (222 AD) and Liberius (235 AD). The dates for the first 30 popes here often match those found in the Catholic Encyclopedia.

1st Century Popes

2nd Century Popes

3rd Century Popes

4th Century Popes

Popes in the Middle Ages: 5th to 10th Centuries

5th Century Popes

6th Century Popes

Popes of the 6th century

Pontiff number	Pontificate	Portrait	Name: English · Latin	Personal name	Date and Place of birth	Age at start/ end of papacy	Notes
52	20 July 514 – 6 August 523 (9 years, 17 days)		St Hormisdas HORMISDAS	Hormisdas	c. 450 Frusino, Italy, Western Roman Empire	64 / 73	A Roman citizen. His feast day is August 6. He was the father of Silverius.
53	13 August 523 – 18 May 526 (2 years, 278 days)		St John I IOANNES	Ioannes	Sena Iulia, Italy, Western Roman Empire		A Roman citizen. His feast day is May 18.
54	12 July 526 – 22 September 530 (4 years, 72 days)	Mosaic of Felix IV	St Felix IV FELIX Quartus	Felix	c. 490 Samnium, Odoacer's Kingdom of Italy	36 / 40	A Roman. His feast day is January 30. He built the church of Santi Cosma e Damiano.
55	22 September 530 – 17 October 532 (2 years, 25 days)		Boniface II BONIFACIVS Secundus	Bonifacius	Odoacer's Kingdom of Italy		The first pope of Germanic background. He changed how years were numbered in the calendar, from Anno Martyrum to Anno Domini.
—	22 September 530 – 14 October 530 (22 days)		Dioscorus DIOSCORVS	Dioscorus	Alexandria, Aegyptus, Eastern Roman Empire		A Roman citizen of Greek background. He was a rival to Boniface II. He died less than a month after his election.
56	2 January 533 – 8 May 535 (2 years, 126 days)		John II IOANNES Secundus	Mercurius	c. 475 Rome, Western Roman Empire	58 / 60	A Roman citizen. He was the first pope not to use his birth name, as it was linked to the Roman god Mercury.
57	13 May 535 – 22 April 536 (356 days)		St Agapetus I AGAPITVS	Agapetus	c. 490 Rome, Odoacer's Kingdom of Italy	45 / 46	A Roman. His feast days are April 22 and September 20. He is also honored as a saint in Eastern Christianity.
58	8 June 536 – 11 March 537 (276 days)		St Silverius SILVERIVS	Silverius	Cicanum, Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy		A Roman. He was exiled; his feast day is June 20. He was the son of Hormisdas.
59	29 March 537 – 7 June 555 (18 years, 70 days)		Vigilius VIGILIVS	Vigilius	c. 497 Rome, Odoacer's Kingdom of Italy	40 / 58	A Roman. He was pope during the Second Council of Constantinople (553).
60	16 April 556 – 4 March 561 (4 years, 322 days)		Pelagius I PELAGIVS	Pelagius	c. 500 Rome, Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy	56 / 61	A Roman. He is credited with building the basilica of Santi Apostoli.
61	17 July 561 – 13 July 574 (12 years, 361 days)		John III IOANNES Tertius	Catelinus	Rome, Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy		A Roman. He was the second pope not to use his birth name.
62	2 June 575 – 30 July 579 (4 years, 58 days)		Benedict I BENEDICTVS	Benedictus	Rome, Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy		A Roman.
63	26 November 579 – 7 February 590 (10 years, 73 days)		Pelagius II PELAGIVS Secundus	Pelagius	Rome, Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy		A Romanized Ostrogoth. He ordered the building of the Basilica di San Lorenzo fuori le Mura.
64	3 September 590 – 12 March 604 (13 years, 191 days)	Mosaic of Gregory I	St Gregory I "the Great" GREGORIVS MAGNVS	Gregorius	c. 540 Rome, Eastern Roman Empire	50 / 64	A Roman. His feast day is September 3. He was the great-great-grandson of Felix III. He was the first pope to formally use the titles Pontifex Maximus and Servus servorum Dei. He established the Gregorian chant. He is also honored as a saint in Eastern Christianity.

7th Century Popes

Popes of the 7th century

Pontiff number	Pontificate	Portrait	Name: English · Latin	Personal name	Date and Place of birth	Age at start/ end of papacy	Notes
65	13 September 604 – 22 February 606 (1 year, 162 days)		Sabinian SABINIANVS	Sabinianus	c. 530 Blera, Eastern Roman Empire	74 / 76	A Roman. For the next two centuries, Roman popes were influenced by the (Eastern) Roman Empire.
66	19 February 607 – 12 November 607 (266 days)		Boniface III BONIFACIVS Tertius	Bonifacius	Rome, Eastern Roman Empire		Of Greek background.
67	15 September 608 – 8 May 615 (6 years, 235 days)		St Boniface IV BONIFACIVS Quartus	Bonifacius, O.S.B.	c. 550 Marsica, Eastern Roman Empire	58 / 65	A Roman. His feast day is May 8. He was a member of the Order of Saint Benedict. He was the first pope to have the same name as his immediate predecessor.
68	13 November 615 – 8 November 618 (2 years, 360 days)	Seal of Pope Adeodatus I	St Adeodatus I ADEODATVS	Adeodatus (or Deusdedit)	Rome, Eastern Roman Empire		A Roman. His feast day is November 8. He was the first pope to use lead seals on papal documents, which became known as papal bulls.
69	23 December 619 – 25 October 625 (5 years, 306 days)		Boniface V BONIFACIVS Quintus	Bonifacius	Neapolis, Eastern Roman Empire		A Roman.
70	27 October 625 – 12 October 638 (12 years, 350 days)	Apse mosaic of Pope Honorius I	Honorius I HONORIVS	Honorius	Ceperanum, Campania, Eastern Roman Empire		A Roman. He was later declared a heretic by a Church council.
71	28 May 640 – 2 August 640 (66 days)		Severinus SEVERINVS	Severinus	c. 585 Rome, Eastern Roman Empire	55 / 55	A Roman.
72	24 December 640 – 12 October 642 (1 year, 292 days)		John IV IOANNES Quartus	Ioannes	c. 585 Iadera, Dalmatia, Eastern Roman Empire	53 / 55	A Roman.
73	24 November 642 – 14 May 649 (6 years, 171 days)		Theodore I THEODORVS	Theodorus	Hierosolyma, Eastern Roman Empire		A Greek. He was the last pope from Palestine.
74	5 July 649 – 16 September 655 (6 years, 73 days)		St Martin I MARTINVS	Martinus	c. 598 Near Tuder, Umbria, Eastern Roman Empire	51 / 57	A Roman. He was the last pope recognized as a martyr; his feast day is November 12. He is also honored as a saint in Eastern Christianity.
75	10 August 654 – 2 June 657 (2 years, 296 days)		St Eugene I EVGENIVS	Eugenius	c. 615 Rome, Exarchate of Ravenna, Eastern Roman Empire	39 / 42	A Roman. His feast day is June 2.
76	30 July 657 – 27 January 672 (14 years, 181 days)	Papal Bull of Pope Vitalian	St Vitalian VITALIANVS	Vitalianus	c. 600 Signia, Exarchate of Ravenna, Eastern Roman Empire	56 / 71	A Roman. His feast day is January 27.
77	11 April 672 – 17 June 676 (4 years, 67 days)		Adeodatus II ADEODATVS Secundus	Adeodatus, O.S.B.	c. 621 Rome, Exarchate of Ravenna, Eastern Roman Empire	51 / 55	A Roman. He was a member of the Order of Saint Benedict.
78	2 November 676 – 11 April 678 (1 year, 160 days)		Donus DONVS	Donus	Rome, Exarchate of Ravenna, Eastern Roman Empire		A Roman.
79	27 June 678 – 10 January 681 (2 years, 197 days)	Pope Agatho	St Agatho AGATHO	Agatho	c. 577 Panormus, Sicily, Eastern Roman Empire	101 / 104	Of Greek background. His feast day is January 10. He is also honored as a saint in Eastern Christianity. He was pope during the Third Council of Constantinople (680).
80	17 August 682 – 3 July 683 (320 days)		St Leo II LEO Secundus	Leo	c. 611 Aydonum, Sicily, Eastern Roman Empire	71 / 72	Of Greek background. His feast day is July 3.
81	26 June 684 – 8 May 685 (316 days)		St Benedict II BENEDICTVS Secundus	Benedictus	c. 635 Rome, Exarchate of Ravenna, Eastern Roman Empire	49 / 50	A Roman. His feast day is May 7.
82	23 July 685 – 2 August 686 (1 year, 10 days)	Coin from the time of Pope John V	John V IOANNES Quintus	Ioannes	c. 635 Antiochia, Syria, Eastern Roman Empire	50 / 51	Of Greek background.
83	21 October 686 – 21 September 687 (335 days)		Conon CONON	Conon	c. 630 Thracia, Eastern Roman Empire	56 / 57	Of Greek background.
84	15 December 687 – 8 September 701 (13 years, 267 days)		St Sergius I SERGIVS	Sergius	c. 650 Palermo, Sicily, Eastern Roman Empire	37 / 51	A Hellenized Syrian. He introduced the singing of the Lamb of God at Mass.

8th Century Popes

Popes of the 8th century

Pontiff number	Pontificate	Portrait	Name: English · Latin	Personal name	Date and Place of birth	Age at start/ end of papacy	Notes
85	30 October 701 – 11 January 705 (3 years, 73 days)		John VI IOANNES Sextus	Ioannes	c. 655 Ephesus, Eastern Roman Empire	46 / 50	Of Greek background. He was the only pope from Asia Minor.
86	1 March 705 – 18 October 707 (2 years, 231 days)	Byzantine mosaic of Pope John VII	John VII IOANNES Septimus	Ioannes	c. 650 Rossanum, Calabria, Eastern Roman Empire	55 / 57	Of Greek background. He was the second pope to have the same name as his immediate predecessor.
87	15 January 708 – 4 February 708 (20 days)		Sisinnius SISINNIVS	Sisinnius	Syria, Rashidun Caliphate		Of Syrian background.
88	25 March 708 – 9 April 715 (7 years, 15 days)		Constantine CONSTANTINVS	Constantinus	c. 664 Tyre, Jund al-Urdunn, Syria, Umayyad Caliphate	44 / 51	Of Syrian background. He was the last pope to visit Greece while in office until John Paul II in 2001.
89	19 May 715 – 11 February 731 (15 years, 268 days)		St Gregory II GREGORIVS Secundus	Gregorius	c. 669 Rome, Exarchate of Ravenna, Eastern Roman Empire	46 / 62	A Roman. His feast day is February 11. He held an important meeting in Rome in 721.
90	18 March 731 – 28 November 741 (10 years, 255 days)	Coin from the time of Pope Gregory III	St Gregory III GREGORIVS Tertius	Gregorius	Syria, Umayyad Caliphate		The last pope from Syria. He was the third pope to come from a Muslim country. He was also the last pope born outside Europe until Francis in 2013.
91	3 December 741 – 22 March 752 (10 years, 110 days)	Pope Zachary	St Zachary ZACHARIAS	Zacharias	c. 679 Sancta Severina, Calabria, Eastern Roman Empire	62 / 73	Of Greek background. His feast day is March 15. He built the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva.
—	23 March 752 – 26 March 752 (3 days) (Never took office as pope)		Stephen (II) STEPHANVS (Secundus)	Stephanus	Rome, Exarchate of Ravenna, Eastern Roman Empire		A Roman. He died three days after being chosen, before he could become a bishop. He is no longer considered a pope by the Catholic Church.
92	26 March 752 – 26 April 757 (5 years, 31 days)		Stephen II STEPHANVS Secundus	Stephanus	c. 714 Rome, Exarchate of Ravenna, Eastern Roman Empire	38 / 43	A Roman. He was sometimes called Stephen III. He was the brother of Paul I.
93	29 May 757 – 28 June 767 (10 years, 30 days)		St Paul I PAVLVS	Paulus	c. 700 Rome, Exarchate of Ravenna, Eastern Roman Empire	57 / 67	A Roman. He was the brother of Stephen II.
94	7 August 768 – 24 January 772 (3 years, 170 days)		Stephen III STEPHANVS Tertius	Stephanus	c. 720 Syracuse, Sicily, Eastern Roman Empire	48 / 52	Of Greek background. He called an important meeting in Rome in 769.
95	1 February 772 – 26 December 795 (23 years, 328 days)		Adrian I HADRIANVS	Hadrianus	c. 700 Rome, Exarchate of Ravenna, Eastern Roman Empire	72 / 95	A Roman. He was pope during the Second Council of Nicaea (787).
96	26 December 795 – 12 June 816 (20 years, 169 days)	Pope Leo III	St Leo III LEO Tertius	Leo	Rome, Exarchate of Ravenna, Eastern Roman Empire		A Roman. He crowned Emperor Charlemagne on Christmas Day in 800, which began the Holy Roman Empire.

9th Century Popes

Popes of the 9th century

Pontiff number	Pontificate	Portrait	Name: English · Latin	Personal name	Date and Place of birth	Age at start/ end of papacy	Notes
97	22 June 816 – 24 January 817 (216 days)		Stephen IV STEPHANVS Quartus	Stephanus	Rome, Papal States		The first pope born in Rome after the Church broke away from the Eastern Roman Empire.
98	25 January 817 – 11 February 824 (7 years, 17 days)	Pope Paschal I	St Paschal I PASCHALIS	Paschalis	Rome, Papal States		He is credited with finding the body of Saint Cecilia and building churches.
99	6 June 824 – 27 August 827 (3 years, 111 days)		Eugene II EVGENIVS Secundus	Eugenius	Rome, Papal States
100	31 August 827 – 10 October 827 (40 days)		Valentine VALENTINVS	Valentinus	Rome, Papal States
101	20 December 827 – 25 January 844 (16 years, 36 days)	Pope Gregory IV	Gregory IV GREGORIVS Quartus	Gregorius	Rome, Papal States		He rebuilt parts of St. Peter's Basilica.
102	25 January 844 – 27 January 847 (3 years, 2 days)		Sergius II SERGIVS Secundus	Sergius	Rome, Papal States
103	10 April 847 – 17 July 855 (8 years, 98 days)	Pope Leo IV	St Leo IV LEO Quartus	Leo, O.S.B.	Rome, Papal States		Of Lombard background. He was a member of the Order of Saint Benedict.
104	29 September 855 – 17 April 858 (2 years, 200 days)		Benedict III BENEDICTVS Tertius	Benedictus	Rome, Papal States
105	24 April 858 – 13 November 867 (9 years, 203 days)		St Nicholas I "the Great" NICOLAVS MAGNVS	Nicolaus	c. 800 Rome, Papal States	58 / 67	His feast day is November 13. He encouraged Christian missionaries.
106	14 December 867 – 14 December 872 (5 years, 0 days)		Adrian II HADRIANVS Secundus	Hadrianus	c. 792 Rome, Papal States	75 / 80	He was pope during the Fourth Council of Constantinople (869–870).
107	14 December 872 – 16 December 882 (10 years, 2 days)	Pope John VIII	John VIII IOANNES Octavus	Ioannes	Rome, Papal States		He was the first pope to be assassinated.
108	16 December 882 – 15 May 884 (1 year, 151 days)		Marinus I MARINVS	Marinus	c. 830 Gallese, Papal States	52 / 54	He was sometimes mistakenly called Martin II.
109	17 May 884 – 8 July 885 (1 year, 121 days)		St Adrian III HADRIANVS Tertius	Hadrianus	Rome, Papal States		His feast day is July 8.
110	September 885 – 14 September 891 (5 years, 355 days)		Stephen V STEPHANVS Quintus	Stephanus	Rome, Papal States		He was sometimes called Stephen VI.
111	6 October 891 – 4 April 896 (4 years, 181 days)		Formosus FORMOSVS	Formosus	c. 816 Ostia, Papal States	75 / 80	He was later put on trial after his death by Stephen VI. His body was later reburied with full honors.
112	11 April 896 – 26 April 896 (15 days)		Boniface VI BONIFATIVS Sextus	Bonifatius	Rome, Papal States
113	22 May 896 – 14 August 897 (1 year, 84 days)		Stephen VI STEPHANVS	Stephanus	Rome, Papal States		He was sometimes called Stephen VII. He held a very unusual trial of a dead pope.
114	14 August 897 – November 897 (92 days)		Romanus ROMANVS	Romanus	Gallese, Papal States
115	December 897 – 20 December 897 (19 days)		Theodore II THEODORVS Secundus	Theodorus	c. 840 Rome, Papal States	57 / 57	Of Greek background.
116	18 January 898 – 5 January 900 (1 year, 352 days)		John IX IOANNES Nonus	Ioannes, O.S.B.	c. 825 Tivoli, Papal States	73 / 75	Of Lombard background. He was a member of the Order of Saint Benedict.
117	1 February 900 – 30 July 903 (3 years, 179 days)	Coin from the time of Pope Benedict IV	Benedict IV BENEDICTVS Quartus	Benedictus	c. 840 Rome, Papal States	60 / 63

10th Century Popes

Popes of the 10th century

Pontiff number	Pontificate	Portrait	Name: English · Latin	Personal name	Date and Place of birth	Age at start/ end of papacy	Notes
118	30 July 903 – December 903 (124 days)		Leo V LEO Quintus	Leo	Ardea, Papal States		He was removed from office and died.
—	October 903 – January 904 (92 days)		Christopher CHRISTOFORVS	Christoforus	Rome, Papal States		He was a rival to Leo V.
119	29 January 904 – 14 April 911 (7 years, 75 days)		Sergius III SERGIVS Tertius	Sergius	c. 860 Rome, Papal States	44 / 51	He was the first pope shown wearing the papal tiara.
120	14 April 911 – June 913 (2 years, 48 days)	Coin from the time of Pope Anastasius III	Anastasius III ANASTASIVS Tertius	Anastasius	c. 865 Rome, Papal States	46 / 48
121	7 July 913 – 5 February 914 (213 days)		Lando LANDVS	Lando	Sabina, Papal States		He was the last pope to use a new and unique name until Francis in 2013.
122	March 914 – 28 May 928 (14 years, 88 days)		John X IOANNES Decimus	Ioannes	Tossignano, Papal States
123	28 May 928 – February 929 (249 days)		Leo VI LEO Sextus	Leo	c. 880 Rome, Papal States	48 / 40
124	3 February 929 – 13 February 931 (2 years, 10 days)		Stephen VII STEPHANVS Septimus	Stephanus de Gabrielli	Rome, Papal States		He was sometimes called Stephen VIII.
125	15 March 931 – December 935 (4 years, 261 days)		John XI IOANNES Undecimus	Ioannes	c. 910 Rome, Papal States	21 / 25	He was likely the son of Sergius III.
126	3 January 936 – 13 July 939 (3 years, 191 days)		Leo VII LEO Septimus	Leo, O.S.B.	Rome, Papal States		He was a member of the Order of Saint Benedict.
127	14 July 939 – 30 October 942 (3 years, 108 days)		Stephen VIII STEPHANVS Octavus	Stephanus	Rome, Papal States		He was sometimes called Stephen IX.
128	30 October 942 – 1 May 946 (3 years, 183 days)		Marinus II MARINVS Secundus	Marinus	Rome, Papal States		He was sometimes mistakenly called Martin III.
129	10 May 946 – 8 November 955 (9 years, 182 days)	Pope Agapetus II	Agapetus II AGAPITVS Secundus	Agapetus	c. 911 Rome, Papal States	35 / 44
130	16 December 955 – 6 December 963 (7 years, 355 days)	Emperor Otto I meets Pope John XII	John XII IOANNES Duodecimus	Ottaviano	c. 930–37 Rome, Papal States	18–25 / 26–33 (†27–34)	He was the third pope not to use his birth name. He crowned Emperor Otto I in 962.
—	6 December 963 – 26 February 964 (82 days)		Leo VIII LEO Octavus	Leo	c. 915 Rome, Papal States	48 / 49 (†50)	He was chosen by Emperor Otto I as a rival to John XII. The Catholic Church today does not consider his time as pope during this period to be legitimate.
130	26 February 964 – 14 May 964 (78 days)	Emperor Otto I meets Pope John XII	John XII IOANNES Duodecimus	Ottaviano	c. 930–37 Rome, Papal States	27–34 / 27–34	He might have been murdered in 964.
131	22 May 964 – 23 June 964 (32 days)	Fragment from the tomb of Pope Benedict V	Benedict V BENEDICTVS Quintus	Benedetto	Rome, Papal States		He was chosen by the people of Rome as a rival to Leo VIII. He later accepted his removal from office.
132	23 June 964 – 1 March 965 (251 days)		Leo VIII LEO Octavus	Leo	c. 915 Rome, Papal States	49 / 50	His time as pope after the removal of Benedict V is considered legitimate by the Catholic Church today.
133	1 October 965 – 6 September 972 (6 years, 341 days)		John XIII IOANNES Tertius Decimus	Giovanni dei Crescenzi	Rome, Papal States		He was known as "the Good" after his death.
134	19 January 973 – 8 June 974 (1 year, 140 days)		Benedict VI BENEDICTVS Sextus	Benedetto	Rome, Papal States		Of Lombard background. He was removed from office and died.
—	July 974 – July 974 (30 days)		Boniface VII BONIFATIVS Septimus	Francone Ferucci	Rome, Papal States		He was a rival to popes Benedict VI and Benedict VII.
135	October 974 – 10 July 983 (8 years, 282 days)		Benedict VII BENEDICTVS Septimus	Benedetto	Rome, Papal States
136	December 983 – 20 August 984 (263 days)		John XIV IOANNES Quartus Decimus	Pietro Canepanova	Pavia, Kingdom of Italy		He was the fourth pope not to use his birth name.
—	20 August 984 – 20 July 985 (334 days)		Boniface VII BONIFATIVS Septimus	Francone Ferucci	Rome, Papal States		He was a rival to popes John XIV and John XV.
137	20 August 985 – 1 April 996 (10 years, 225 days)		John XV IOANNES Quintus Decimus	Giovanni di Gallina Alba	Rome, Papal States		He was the first pope to officially declare someone a saint.
138	3 May 996 – 18 February 999 (2 years, 291 days)		Gregory V GREGORIVS Quintus	Bruno von Kärnten	c. 972 Stainach, Duchy of Carinthia	24 / 27	The first official German pope. He was the fifth pope not to use his birth name, a practice that became a tradition.
—	April 997 – February 998 (306 days)		John XVI IOANNES Sextus Decimus	Iōánnēs Philágathos, O.S.B.	c. 945 Rossanum, Calabria, Italy, Eastern Roman Empire	52 / 53 (†56)	A Roman citizen. He was a rival to Gregory V.
139	2 April 999 – 12 May 1003 (4 years, 40 days)	Pope Sylvester II	Sylvester II SILVESTER Secundus	Gerbert d'Aurillac, O.S.B.	c. 945 Belliac, Kingdom of the West Franks	53 / 57	The first French pope. He was a member of the Order of Saint Benedict.

Popes in the High Middle Ages: 11th to 12th Centuries

11th Century Popes

Popes of the 11th century

Pontiff number	Pontificate	Portrait	Name: English · Latin	Personal name	Date and Place of birth	Age at start/ end of papacy	Notes
140	16 May 1003 – 6 November 1003 (174 days)		John XVII IOANNES Septimus Decimus	Giovanni Sicco	c. 955 Rome, Papal States	48 / 48
141	25 December 1003 – 18 July 1009 (5 years, 205 days)		John XVIII IOANNES Duodevicesimus	Giovanni Fasano	c. 965 Rapagnano, Papal States	43 / 49	He was the first pope born after the Papal States became part of the Holy Roman Empire.
142	31 July 1009 – 12 May 1012 (2 years, 286 days)		Sergius IV SERGIVS Quartus	Pietro Martino Boccadiporco, O.S.B.	c. 970 Rome, Papal States	39 / 42	He was a member of the Order of Saint Benedict.
—	12 June 1012 – 31 December 1012 (202 days)		Gregory VI GREGORIVS Sextus	Gregorio	Rome, Papal States		He was a rival to Benedict VIII. He was removed from Rome.
143	18 May 1012 – 9 April 1024 (11 years, 327 days)		Benedict VIII BENEDICTVS Octavus	Teofilatto di Tuscolo	c. 980 Rome, Papal States	32 / 44	He was the brother of John XIX.
144	14 May 1024 – 6 October 1032 (8 years, 145 days)	Pope John XIX	John XIX IOANNES Undevicesimus	Romano di Tuscolo	c. 975 Rome, Papal States	49 / 57	He was the brother of Benedict VIII.
145	21 October 1032 – 31 December 1044 (12 years, 71 days)		Benedict IX BENEDICTVS Nonus	Teofilatto di Tuscolo	c. 1012 Rome, Papal States	20 / 32 (†43)	This was his first time as pope. He was the youngest person to become pope.
146	13 January 1045 – 10 March 1045 (56 days)		Sylvester III SILVESTER Tertius	Giovanni dei Crescenzi-Ottaviani	c. 1000 Rome, Papal States	45 / 45 (†63)	His election was questioned, and he was removed from office.
147	10 March 1045 – 1 May 1045 (52 days)		Benedict IX BENEDICTVS Nonus	Teofilatto di Tuscolo	c. 1012 Rome, Papal States	33 / 33 (†43)	This was his second time as pope. He was removed from office.
148	1 May 1045 – 20 December 1046 (1 year, 233 days)		Gregory VI GREGORIVS Sextus	Giovanni Graziano Pierleoni	c. 1000 Rome, Papal States	45 / 46 (†48)	He was removed from office.
149	24 December 1046 – 9 October 1047 (289 days)		Clement II CLEMENS Secundus	Suidger von Morsleben-Hornburg	c. 967 Hornburg, Duchy of Saxony	79 / 80	He was chosen by King Henry III.
150	8 November 1047 – 17 July 1048 (252 days)		Benedict IX BENEDICTVS Nonus	Teofilatto di Tuscolo	c. 1012 Rome, Papal States	35 / 36 (†43)	This was his third time as pope. He was removed from office.
151	17 July 1048 – 9 August 1048 (23 days)		Damasus II DAMASVS Secundus	Poppo von Brixen	c. 1000 Pildenau, Duchy of Bavaria	48 / 48
152	12 February 1049 – 19 April 1054 (5 years, 66 days)	Pope Leo IX	St Leo IX LEO Nonus	Bruno von Egisheim-Dagsburg	21 July 1002 Eguisheim, Duchy of Swabia	47 / 51	In 1054, actions during his time led to the East–West Schism, a major split between the Eastern and Western Churches.
153	13 April 1055 – 28 July 1057 (2 years, 106 days)	Pope Victor II	Victor II VICTOR Secundus	Gebhard von Dollnstein-Hirschberg	c. 1018 Duchy of Swabia	37 / 39
154	2 August 1057 – 29 March 1058 (239 days)		Stephen IX STEPHANVS Nonus	Friedrich Gozzelon von Lothringen, O.S.B.	c. 1020 Duchy of Lorraine	37 / 38	He was the last German pope until Benedict XVI (2005–2013). He was a member of the Order of Saint Benedict.
—	4 April 1058 – 24 January 1059 (295 days)		Benedict X BENEDICTVS Decimus	Giovanni Mincio di Tuscolo	Rome, Papal States		He was a rival to Nicholas II. He was captured and removed from office.
155	6 December 1058 – 27 July 1061 (2 years, 233 days)	Pope Nicholas II	Nicholas II NICOLAVS Secundus	Gerald de Bourgogne	c. 980 Château de Chevron, County of Savoy	78 / 81	Of French background. He stated that only the College of Cardinals could elect the pope.
—	30 September 1061 – 1072 (10 years, 185 days)		Honorius II HONORIVS Secundus	Pietro Cadalo	1010 Verona, March of Verona	61 / 72	He was a rival to Alexander II.
156	30 September 1061 – 21 April 1073 (11 years, 203 days)		Alexander II ALEXANDER Secundus	Anselmo da Baggio	c. 1018 Baggio, Free Commune of Milan	46 / 58	He allowed the Norman conquest of England.
157	22 April 1073 – 25 May 1085 (12 years, 33 days)	Pope Gregory VII	St Gregory VII GREGORIVS Septimus	Ildebrando di Soana, O.S.B.	c. 1015 Sovana, March of Tuscany	48 / 60	Of Lombard background. He started the Gregorian Reforms. He was a member of the Order of Saint Benedict. He had a political struggle with Emperor Henry IV.
—	25 June 1080 – 8 September 1100 (20 years, 75 days)	Antipope Clement III	Clement III CLEMENS Tertius	Guibert of Ravenna	1029 Ravenna, Papal States	51 / 71	He was a rival to several popes.
158	24 May 1086 – 16 September 1087 (1 year, 115 days)	Pope Victor III	Bl. Victor III VICTOR Tertius	Desiderio da Montecassino, O.S.B.	c. 1026 Benevento, Duchy of Benevento	60 / 61	Of Lombard background. He was a member of the Order of Saint Benedict.
159	12 March 1088 – 29 July 1099 (11 years, 139 days)	Pope Urban II	Bl. Urban II VRBANVS Secundus	Odon de Lagery, O.S.B.	c. 1042 Châtillon-sur-Marne, County of Champagne, Kingdom of France	46 / 57	He was a member of the Order of Saint Benedict. He preached and started the First Crusade.
160	13 August 1099 – 21 January 1118 (18 years, 161 days)	Pope Paschal II	Paschal II PASCHALIS Secundus	Raniero di Bleda, O.S.B.	c. 1050 Bleda, March of Tuscany	49 / 68	Of Lombard background. He was a member of the Order of Saint Benedict. He ordered the building of the basilica of Santi Quattro Coronati.
—	8 September 1100 – January 1101 (115 days)		Theodoric THEODORICVS	Teodorico	c. 1030 Rome, Papal States	70 / 71	Of Lombard background. He was a rival to Paschal II. He was captured and sent to a monastery.

12th Century Popes

Popes of the 12th century

Pontiff number	Pontificate	Portrait	Name: English · Latin	Personal name	Date and Place of birth	Age at start/ end of papacy	Notes
—	January 1101 – February 1102 (1 year, 31 days)		Adalbert ADALBERTVS	Adalberto, O.S.B.	Rome, Papal States		Of Lombard background. He was a rival to Paschal II. He was captured and imprisoned.
—	8 November 1105 – 11 April 1111 (5 years, 154 days)		Sylvester IV SILVESTER Quartus	Maguinulf	1050 Rome, Papal States	49 / 55 (†56)	Of German background. He was a rival to Paschal II. He was forced to step down.
161	24 January 1118 – 29 January 1119 (1 year, 5 days)	Pope Gelasius II	Gelasius II GELASIVS Secundus	Giovanni Caetani, O.S.B.	c. 1061 Gaeta, Duchy of Gaeta	57 / 58	He was a member of the Order of Saint Benedict.
—	10 March 1118 – 20 April 1121 (3 years, 41 days)		Gregory VIII GREGORIVS Octavus	Maurice Baurdain	c. 1060 Limousin, Occitania, Kingdom of France	58 / 61 (†77)	Of Occitan background. He was a rival to popes Gelasius II and Callixtus II. He was captured and imprisoned.
162	2 February 1119 – 13 December 1124 (5 years, 315 days)	Pope Callixtus II	Callixtus II CALLISTVS Secundus	Gui de Bourgogne	c. 1060 Quingey, County of Burgundy	59 / 64	Of French background. He called the First Council of the Lateran (1123).
—	16 December 1124 – 17 December 1124 (1 day)		Celestine II COELESTINVS Secundus	Teobaldo Boccapeci	1050 Rome, Papal States	74 / 74 (†76)	He was a rival to Honorius II. He stepped down one day after being chosen.
163	21 December 1124 – 13 February 1130 (5 years, 54 days)		Honorius II HONORIVS Secundus	Lamberto Scannabecchi da Fiagnano, Can.Reg.	9 February 1060 Fiagnano, Papal States	64 / 70	He approved the Knights Templar as a military order in 1128.
164	14 February 1130 – 24 September 1143 (13 years, 222 days)	Pope Innocent II	Innocent II INNOCENTIVS Secundus	Gregorio Papareschi, Can.Reg.	c. 1082 Rome, Papal States	48 / 61	He called the Second Council of the Lateran (1139).
—	14 February 1130 – 25 January 1138 (7 years, 345 days)		Anacletus II ANACLETVS Secundus	Pietro Pierleoni, O.S.B.	1090 Rome, Papal States	40 / 48	He was a rival to Innocent II.
—	15 March 1138 – 29 May 1138 (75 days)		Victor IV VICTOR Quartus	Gregorio Conti	Rome, Papal States		He was a rival to Innocent II.
165	26 September 1143 – 8 March 1144 (164 days)	Pope Celestine II	Celestine II COELESTINVS Secundus	Guido Guelfuccio di Castello	c. 1085 Città di Castello, Papal States	58 / 59
166	12 March 1144 – 15 February 1145 (340 days)		Lucius II LUCIVS Secundus	Gherardo Caccianemici dall'Orso, Can.Reg.	c. 1079 Bologna, Papal States	65 / 66
167	15 February 1145 – 8 July 1153 (8 years, 143 days)	Pope Eugene III	Bl. Eugene III EVGENIVS Tertius	Bernardo Pignatelli, O.Cist.	c. 1080 Pisa, Republic of Pisa	65 / 73	He was a member of the Order of Cistercians. He announced the Second Crusade.
168	12 July 1153 – 3 December 1154 (1 year, 144 days)		Anastasius IV ANASTASIVS Quartus	Corrado Demetri della Suburra	c. 1073 Rome, Papal States	80 / 81
169	4 December 1154 – 1 September 1159 (4 years, 271 days)	Pope Adrian IV	Adrian IV HADRIANVS Quartus	Nicholas Breakspear, Can.Reg.	c. 1100 Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire, Kingdom of England	54 / 59	The only English pope. He was a member of the Canon Regular of Saint-Ruf monastery.
170	7 September 1159 – 30 August 1181 (21 years, 357 days)	Pope Alexander III	Alexander III ALEXANDER Tertius	Rolando Bandinelli	c. 1100 Siena, March of Tuscany	59 / 81	He called the Third Council of the Lateran (1179).
—	7 September 1159 – 20 April 1164 (4 years, 226 days)		Victor IV VICTOR Quartus	Ottaviano dei Crescenzi Ottaviani di Monticelli	1095 Rome, Papal States	64 / 69	He was a rival to Alexander III.
—	28 April 1164 – 22 September 1168 (4 years, 147 days)		Paschal III PASCHALIS Tertius	Guido di Crema	1110 Rome, Papal States	54 / 58	He was a rival to Alexander III.
—	30 September 1168 – 29 August 1178 (9 years, 333 days)		Callixtus III CALLIXTVS Tertius	Giovanni di Struma, O.S.B.	1090 Rome, Papal States	78 / 88	He was a rival to Alexander III.
—	29 September 1179 – January 1180 (124 days)		Innocent III INNOCENTIVS Tertius	Lando (or Lanzo) di Sezze	1120 Sezze, Papal States	59 / 60 (†63)	He was a rival to Alexander III. He was captured and imprisoned.
171	1 September 1181 – 25 November 1185 (4 years, 85 days)	Pope Lucius III	Lucius III LUCIVS Tertius	Ubaldo Allucignoli	c. 1100 Lucca, March of Tuscany	81 / 85
172	25 November 1185 – 20 October 1187 (1 year, 329 days)	Pope Urban III	Urban III VRBANVS Tertius	Uberto Crivelli	c. 1120 Cuggiono, small town closer to the Free Commune of Milan	65 / 67	Of Italian background.
173	21 October 1187 – 17 December 1187 (57 days)		Gregory VIII GREGORIVS Octavus	Alberto di Morra, O.Praem.	c. 1100 Benevento, Papal States	87 / 87	He was a member of the Canon Regular Premonstratense. He suggested the Third Crusade.
174	19 December 1187 – 20 March 1191 (3 years, 91 days)	Pope Clement III	Clement III CLEMENS Tertius	Paolo Scolari	c. 1130 Rome, Papal States	57 / 61
175	30 March 1191 – 8 January 1198 (6 years, 284 days)	Pope Celestine III	Celestine III COELESTINVS Tertius	Giacinto Bobone Orsini	c. 1105 Rome, Papal States	86 / 93	He confirmed the rules for the Teutonic Knights, a military order.
176	8 January 1198 – 16 July 1216 (18 years, 190 days)	Pope Innocent III	Innocent III INNOCENTIVS Tertius	Lotario dei Conti di Segni	c. 1161 Gavignano, Papal States	37 / 55	He called the Fourth Council of the Lateran (1215). He started the Fourth Crusade but later distanced himself from it. He also supported the Franciscan Order.

Popes in the Late Middle Ages: 13th to 14th Centuries

13th Century Popes

Popes of the 13th century

Pontiff number	Pontificate	Portrait	Name: English · Latin	Personal name	Date and Place of birth	Age at start/ end of papacy	Notes
177	18 July 1216 – 18 March 1227 (10 years, 243 days)	Pope Honorius III	Honorius III HONORIVS Tertius	Cencio Savelli	c. 1150 Rome, Papal States	66 / 77	He started the Fifth Crusade. He also approved several religious orders.
178	19 March 1227 – 22 August 1241 (14 years, 156 days)	Pope Gregory IX	Gregory IX GREGORIVS Nonus	Ugolino dei Conti di Segni	c. 1145 Anagni, Papal States	82 / 96	He started the inquisition in France and supported the Northern Crusades.
179	25 October 1241 – 10 November 1241 (16 days)		Celestine IV COELESTINVS Quartus	Goffredo Castiglioni	c. 1180 Free Commune of Milan (city-state)	61 / 61	He died before he could be crowned.
180	25 June 1243 – 7 December 1254 (11 years, 165 days)	Pope Innocent IV	Innocent IV INNOCENTIVS Quartus	Sinibaldo Fieschi	c. 1195 Genoa, Republic of Genoa	48 / 60	He called the First Council of Lyon (1245).
181	12 December 1254 – 25 May 1261 (6 years, 164 days)		Alexander IV ALEXANDER Quartus	Rinaldo dei Conti di Segni	c. 1199 Jenne, Papal States	55 / 62	He was the first pope born after the Papal States became independent in 1177. He brought back the papal inquisition in France.
182	29 August 1261 – 2 October 1264 (3 years, 34 days)	Pope Urban IV	Urban IV VRBANVS Quartus	Jacques Pantaléon	c. 1195 Troyes, County of Champagne, Kingdom of France	66 / 69	He started the feast of Corpus Christi in 1264.
183	5 February 1265 – 29 November 1268 (3 years, 298 days)	Pope Clement IV	Clement IV CLEMENS Quartus	Gui Foucois	23 November 1190 Saint-Gilles, Languedoc, Kingdom of France	62 / 66
—	29 November 1268 – 1 September 1271 (2 years, 276 days)		Interregnum				There was almost a three-year period without a pope because cardinals could not agree on a choice.
184	1 September 1271 – 10 January 1276 (4 years, 131 days)	Pope Gregory X	Bl. Gregory X GREGORIVS Decimus	Teobaldo Visconti	c. 1210 Free Commune of Piacenza (city-state)	61 / 66	He called the Second Council of Lyon and set rules for how popes should be elected.
185	21 January 1276 – 22 June 1276 (153 days)	Pope Innocent V	Bl. Innocent V INNOCENTIVS Quintus	Pierre de Tarentaise, O.P.	c. 1225 County of Savoy	52 / 52	Of French background. He was a member of the Dominican Order. He was the first pope chosen in a conclave (a meeting of cardinals to elect a pope).
186	11 July 1276 – 18 August 1276 (38 days)	Pope Adrian V	Adrian V HADRIANVS Quintus	Ottobuono Fieschi	c. 1216 Genoa, Republic of Genoa	60 / 60	He changed the rules for papal elections.
187	8 September 1276 – 20 May 1277 (254 days)	Pope John XXI	John XXI IOANNES Vicesimus Primus	Pedro Julião	c. 1215 Lisbon, Kingdom of Portugal	61 / 62	He was from Portugal. The number XX was skipped in his name due to a mistake in counting previous popes named John.
188	25 November 1277 – 22 August 1280 (2 years, 271 days)	Pope Nicholas III	Nicholas III NICOLAVS Tertius	Giovanni Gaetano Orsini	c. 1216 Rome, Papal States	61 / 64
189	22 February 1281 – 28 March 1285 (4 years, 34 days)	Pope Martin IV	Martin IV MARTINVS Quartus	Simon de Brion	c. 1210 Meinpicien, Touraine, Kingdom of France	71 / 75	He was from France.
190	2 April 1285 – 3 April 1287 (2 years, 1 day)		Honorius IV HONORIVS Quartus	Giacomo Savelli	c. 1210 Rome, Papal States	75 / 77
191	22 February 1288 – 4 April 1292 (4 years, 42 days)	Pope Nicholas IV	Nicholas IV NICOLAVS Quartus	Girolamo Masci, O.F.M.	30 September 1227 Lisciano, Papal States	60 / 64	He was a member of the Franciscan Order. He ordered the creation of the Vatican Archives. He also allowed the Spanish Inquisition to begin.
—	4 April 1292 – 5 July 1294 (2 years, 92 days)		Interregnum				There was a two-year period without a pope because cardinals could not agree on a choice.
192	5 July 1294 – 13 December 1294 (161 days)	Pope Celestine V	St Celestine V COELESTINVS Quintus	Pietro Angelerio da Morrone, O.S.B.	c. 1215 Sant'Angelo Limosano, Kingdom of Sicily	79 / 79 (†81)	He was a member of the Order of Saint Benedict. He was the last pope to step down from his role on his own until Benedict XVI in 2013.
193	24 December 1294 – 11 October 1303 (8 years, 291 days)	Pope Boniface VIII	Boniface VIII BONIFATIVS Octavus	Benedetto Caetani	c. 1230 Anagni, Papal States	64 / 73	He made the rules for papal elections official. He also formalized the jubilee (1300).

14th Century Popes

Popes of the 14th century

Pontiff number	Pontificate	Portrait	Name: English · Latin	Personal name	Date and Place of birth	Age at start/ end of papacy	Notes
194	22 October 1303 – 7 July 1304 (259 days)	Pope Benedict XI	Bl. Benedict XI BENEDICTVS Undecimus	Niccolò Boccasini, O.P.	c. 1240 Treviso, Papal States	63 / 64	He was a member of the Dominican Order. He reversed some of the strong statements made by the previous pope.
195	5 June 1305 – 20 April 1314 (8 years, 319 days)	Pope Clement V	Clement V CLEMENS Quintus	Raymond Bertrand de Got (or Goth)	c. 1264 Villandraut, Gascony, Kingdom of France	41 / 50	He was from France. He moved the papacy to Avignon in 1309. He called the Council of Vienne (1311–1312).
—	20 April 1314 – 7 August 1316 (2 years, 79 days)		Interregnum				There was a two-year period without a pope because cardinals could not agree on a choice.
196	7 August 1316 – 4 December 1334 (18 years, 119 days)	Pope John XXII	John XXII IOANNES Vicesimus Secundus	Jacques Duèze (or d'Euse)	c. 1244 Cahors, Quercy, Kingdom of France	72 / 90	He was from France and was pope in Avignon. He had some controversial views on religious matters.
—	12 May 1328 – 25 July 1330 (2 years, 74 days)	Antipope Nicholas V	Nicholas V NICOLAVS Quintus	Pietro Rainalducci, O.F.M.	1260 Corvaro, Papal States	68 / 70 (†73)	He was a rival to John XXII. He later submitted to John XXII.
197	20 December 1334 – 25 April 1342 (7 years, 126 days)	Pope Benedict XII	Benedict XII BENEDICTVS Duodecimus	Jacques Fournier, O.Cist.	1285 Saverdun, County of Foix, Kingdom of France	49 / 57	He was from France and was pope in Avignon. He was a member of the Order of Cistercians. He was known for reforming monastic orders and fighting against favoritism.
198	7 May 1342 – 6 December 1352 (10 years, 213 days)	Pope Clement VI	Clement VI CLEMENS Sextus	Pierre Roger, O.S.B.	c. 1291 Maumont, Limousin, Kingdom of France	51 / 61	He was from France and was pope in Avignon. He was pope during the Black Death and offered forgiveness for sins to those who died from it.
199	18 December 1352 – 12 September 1362 (9 years, 268 days)	Pope Innocent VI	Innocent VI INNOCENTIVS Sextus	Étienne Aubert	c. 1282 Les Monts, Limousin, Kingdom of France	70 / 80	He was from France and was pope in Avignon. He helped bring about a peace treaty.
200	28 September 1362 – 19 December 1370 (8 years, 82 days)	Pope Urban V	Bl. Urban V VRBANVS Quintus	Guillaume de Grimoard, O.S.B.	1310 Grizac, Languedoc, Kingdom of France	52 / 60	He was from France and was pope in Avignon. He was a member of the Order of Saint Benedict. He improved education and sent missionaries.
201	30 December 1370 – 27 March 1378 (7 years, 87 days)	Pope Gregory XI	Gregory XI GREGORIVS Undecimus	Pierre Roger de Beaufort	c. 1329 Maumont, Limousin, Kingdom of France	41 / 49	He was from France. He moved the papacy back to Rome in 1377. He was the last French pope.
202	8 April 1378 – 15 October 1389 (11 years, 190 days)	Pope Urban VI	Urban VI VRBANVS Sextus	Bartolomeo Prignano	c. 1318 Naples, Kingdom of Naples	60 / 71	He was the last pope chosen from outside the College of Cardinals. He was pope during the Western Schism, a time when there were multiple people claiming to be pope.
—	20 September 1378 – 16 September 1394 (15 years, 353 days)	Antipope Clement VII	Clement VII CLEMENS Septimus	Robert de Genève	1342 Chateau d'Annecy, County of Savoy	36 / 52	He was a rival pope during the Western Schism.
203	2 November 1389 – 1 October 1404 (14 years, 334 days)	Pope Boniface IX	Boniface IX BONIFATIVS Nonus	Pietro Cybo Tomacelli	c. 1350 Naples, Kingdom of Naples	39 / 54	He was pope during the Western Schism.
—	28 September 1394 – 23 May 1423 (28 years, 237 days)	Antipope Benedict XIII	Benedict XIII BENEDICTVS Tertius Decimus	Pedro Martínez de Luna y Pérez de Gotor	25 November 1328 Illueca, Kingdom of Aragon	66 / 94	He was a rival pope during the Western Schism. He was excommunicated in 1417.

Popes in the Renaissance: 15th to 16th Centuries

15th Century Popes

Popes of the 15th century

Pontiff number	Pontificate	Portrait	Name: English · Latin	Personal name	Date and Place of birth	Age at start/ end of papacy	Notes
204	17 October 1404 – 6 November 1406 (2 years, 20 days)	Pope Innocent VII	Innocent VII INNOCENTIVS Septimus	Cosimo Gentile Migliorati	1339 Sulmona, Kingdom of Naples	65 / 67	He was pope during the Western Schism.
205	30 November 1406 – 4 July 1415 (8 years, 216 days)	Pope Gregory XII	Gregory XII GREGORIVS Duodecimus	Angelo Correr	c. 1327 Venice, Republic of Venice	79 / 88 (†90)	He was pope during the Western Schism. He agreed to step down to help end the schism. He was the last pope to step down until Benedict XVI in 2013.
—	30 June 1409 – 3 May 1410 (307 days)	Antipope Alexander V	Alexander V ALEXANDER Quintus	Pétros Philárgēs, O.F.M.	1339 Neapoli, Candia, Republic of Venice	70 / 71	He was a rival pope during the Western Schism. He was considered a legitimate pope until 1963.
—	25 May 1410 – 29 May 1415 (5 years, 4 days)	Antipope John XXIII	John XXIII IOANNES Vicesimus Tertius	Baldassarre Cossa	1365 Procida, Kingdom of Naples	45 / 50 (†54)	He was a rival pope during the Western Schism. He called the Council of Constance (1414). He was removed from office. He was considered a legitimate pope until 1958.
—	4 July 1415 – 11 November 1417 (2 years, 136 days)		Interregnum				There was a two-year period without a pope. The Council of Constance worked to end the Western Schism.
206	11 November 1417 – 20 February 1431 (13 years, 101 days)	Pope Martin V	Martin V MARTINVS Quintus	Oddone Colonna	January–February 1369 Genazzano, Papal States	48 / 62	His election effectively ended the Western Schism. He started the Hussite Wars.
—	10 June 1423 – 26 July 1429 (6 years, 36 days)	Antipope Clement VIII	Clement VIII CLEMENS Octavus	Gil Sánchez Muñoz y Carbón	1369 Teruel, Kingdom of Aragon	54 / 60 (†77)	He was a rival pope during the Western Schism. He later submitted to Martin V.
—	1424 – 1429 (5 years)		Benedict XIV BENEDICTVS Quartus Decimus	Bernard Garnier	Kingdom of France		He was one of two rival popes.
—	1430 – 1437 (7 years)		Benedict XIV BENEDICTVS Quartus Decimus	Jean Carrier	Kingdom of France		He was one of two rival popes.
207	3 March 1431 – 23 February 1447 (15 years, 357 days)	Pope Eugene IV	Eugene IV EVGENIVS Quartus	Gabriele Condulmer, Can.Reg.	1383 Venice, Republic of Venice	48 / 64	He was the nephew of Gregory XII. He crowned Emperor Sigismund in Rome in 1433. He also issued a papal order protecting the people of the Canary Islands from being enslaved if they became Christians.
—	5 November 1439 – 7 April 1449 (9 years, 153 days)	Antipope Felix V	Felix V FELIX Quintus	Amédée de Savoie	4 September 1383 Chambéry, County of Savoy	56 / 65 (†67)	He was a rival to popes Eugene IV and Nicholas V. He later submitted to Nicholas V.
208	6 March 1447 – 24 March 1455 (8 years, 18 days)	Pope Nicholas V	Nicholas V NICOLAVS Quintus	Tommaso Parentucelli	13 November 1397 Sarzana, Republic of Genoa	49 / 57	He held the 1450 jubilee. He also started a library in the Vatican, which became the Vatican Library.
209	8 April 1455 – 6 August 1458 (3 years, 120 days)	Pope Callixtus III	Callixtus III CALLISTVS Tertius	Alfons de Borja	31 December 1378 Xàtiva, Kingdom of Valencia	76 / 79	He was from Valencia. He ordered a new trial for Joan of Arc, which cleared her name. He also promoted his nephews to cardinals.
210	19 August 1458 – 15 August 1464 (5 years, 362 days)	Pope Pius II	Pius II PIVS Secundus	Enea Silvio Bartolomeo Piccolomini	18 October 1405 Corsignano, Republic of Siena	52 / 58	He was interested in city planning and founded the ideal city of Pienza.
211	30 August 1464 – 26 July 1471 (6 years, 330 days)	Pope Paul II	Paul II PAVLVS Secundus	Pietro Barbo	23 February 1417 Venice, Republic of Venice	47 / 54	He was the nephew of Eugene IV. He built the Palazzo San Marco in Rome. He also approved the use of printing in the Papal States.
212	9 August 1471 – 12 August 1484 (13 years, 3 days)	Pope Sixtus IV	Sixtus IV XYSTVS Quartus	Francesco della Rovere, O.F.M.	21 July 1414 Celle Ligure, Republic of Genoa	57 / 70	He was a member of the Franciscan Order. He ordered the building of the Sistine Chapel and created the Vatican Archives. He also allowed the Spanish Inquisition to begin. He was a great supporter of the arts.
213	29 August 1484 – 25 July 1492 (7 years, 331 days)	Pope Innocent VIII	Innocent VIII INNOCENTIVS Octavus	Giovanni Battista Cybo	1432 Genoa, Republic of Genoa	52 / 60	He appointed a leader for the Spanish Inquisition. He also issued a document about witchcraft.
214	11 August 1492 – 18 August 1503 (11 years, 7 days)	Pope Alexander VI	Alexander VI ALEXANDER Sextus	Roderic Llançol i de Borja	1 January 1431 Xàtiva, Kingdom of Valencia	61 / 72	He was the nephew of Callixtus III. He divided the newly explored world between Spain and Portugal. He is known as one of the most discussed popes of the Renaissance period.

16th Century Popes

Popes of the 16th century

Pontiff number	Pontificate	Portrait	Name: English · Latin	Personal name	Date and Place of birth	Age at start/ end of papacy	Notes
215	22 September 1503 – 18 October 1503 (26 days)	Pope Pius III	Pius III PIVS Tertius	Francesco Todeschini-Piccolomini	29 May 1439 Siena, Republic of Siena	64 / 64	He was the nephew of Pius II. He founded the Piccolomini Library.
216	31 October 1503 – 21 February 1513 (9 years, 113 days)	Pope Julius II	Julius II IVLIVS Secundus	Giuliano della Rovere, O.F.M.	5 December 1443 Albisola, Republic of Genoa	59 / 69	He was the nephew of Sixtus IV. He was nicknamed the "Warrior Pope." He took control of all the Papal States for the first time. He started the Vatican Museums and the rebuilding of St. Peter's Basilica. He also organized the famous Swiss Guard for his protection. He commissioned famous artworks by Raphael and Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel.
217	9 March 1513 – 1 December 1521 (8 years, 267 days)	Pope Leo X	Leo X LEO Decimus	Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici	11 December 1475 Florence, Republic of Florence	37 / 45	He was the son of Lorenzo the Magnificent. He is remembered for allowing people to donate money to the Church for the rebuilding of St. Peter's Basilica. He also excommunicated Martin Luther in 1521. He was a big supporter of the arts.
218	9 January 1522 – 14 September 1523 (1 year, 248 days)	Pope Adrian VI	Adrian VI HADRIANVS Sextus	Adriaan Floriszoon Boeyens	2 March 1459 Utrecht, Bishopric of Utrecht	62 / 64	He was the only Dutch pope. He was a teacher to Emperor Charles V. He tried to reform the Catholic Church in response to the Protestant Reformation.
219	26 November 1523 – 25 September 1534 (10 years, 303 days)	Pope Clement VII	Clement VII CLEMENS Septimus	Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici	26 May 1478 Florence, Republic of Florence	45 / 56	He was the cousin of Leo X. Rome was attacked by imperial troops in 1527 during his time. He did not allow King Henry VIII of England to divorce. He commissioned Michelangelo's painting of The Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel.
220	13 October 1534 – 10 November 1549 (15 years, 28 days)	Pope Paul III	Paul III PAVLVS Tertius	Alessandro Farnese	29 February 1468 Canino, Papal States	66 / 81	He recognized the Jesuits in 1540. He opened the Council of Trent (1545), a very important meeting for the Catholic Church. He also appointed Michelangelo to oversee the building of St. Peter's Basilica.
221	7 February 1550 – 29 March 1555 (5 years, 50 days)	Pope Julius III	Julius III IVLIVS Tertius	Giovanni Maria Ciocchi del Monte	10 September 1487 Rome, Papal States	62 / 67	He reopened the Council of Trent in 1551.
222	9 April 1555 – 1 May 1555 (22 days)	Pope Marcellus II	Marcellus II MARCELLVS Secundus	Marcello Cervini degli Spannochi	6 May 1501 Montefano, Papal States	53 / 53	He was the last pope to use his birth name as his papal name.
223	23 May 1555 – 18 August 1559 (4 years, 87 days)	Pope Paul IV	Paul IV PAVLVS Quartus	Gian Pietro Carafa, C.R.	28 June 1476 Capriglia Irpina, Kingdom of Naples	78 / 83	He was a founder and member of the Theatines. He established the Roman Ghetto and published a list of forbidden books. He ordered Michelangelo to make the figures in The Last Judgment look more modest.
224	26 December 1559 – 9 December 1565 (5 years, 348 days)	Pope Pius IV	Pius IV PIVS Quartus	Giovanni Angelo Medici	31 March 1499 Milan, Duchy of Milan	60 / 66	He reopened and closed the Council of Trent (1563). He also ordered public works to improve Rome's water supply.
225	7 January 1566 – 1 May 1572 (6 years, 115 days)	Pope Pius V	St Pius V PIVS Quintus	Antonio Ghislieri, O.P.	17 January 1504 Bosco, Duchy of Milan	61 / 68	He was a member of the Dominican Order. He excommunicated Queen Elizabeth I of England. He also issued an important Roman Missal in 1570.
226	13 May 1572 – 10 April 1585 (12 years, 322 days)	Pope Gregory XIII	Gregory XIII GREGORIVS Tertius Decimus	Ugo Boncompagni	7 January 1502 Bologna, Papal States	70 / 83	He built the Gregorian Chapel in the Vatican. He also reformed the calendar in 1582, creating the Gregorian calendar we use today.
227	24 April 1585 – 27 August 1590 (5 years, 125 days)	Pope Sixtus V	Sixtus V XYSTVS Quintus	Felice Peretti di Montalto, O.F.M. Conv.	13 December 1521 Grottammare, Papal States	63 / 68	He was a member of the Conventual Franciscan Order. He completed many building projects in Rome. He also set the number of cardinals to 70.
228	15 September 1590 – 27 September 1590 (12 days)	Pope Urban VII	Urban VII VRBANVS Septimus	Giovanni Battista Castagna	4 August 1521 Rome, Papal States	69 / 69	He was the shortest-reigning pope. He died before he could be crowned. He set the first known worldwide ban on smoking in or near churches.
229	5 December 1590 – 16 October 1591 (315 days)	Pope Gregory XIV	Gregory XIV GREGORIVS Quartus Decimus	Niccolò Sfondrati	11 February 1535 Somma Lombardo, Duchy of Milan	55 / 56	He made gambling on papal elections punishable by excommunication to keep the process fair.
230	29 October 1591 – 30 December 1591 (62 days)	Pope Innocent IX	Innocent IX INNOCENTIVS Nonus	Giovanni Antonio Facchinetti	20 July 1519 Bologna, Papal States	72 / 72	He supported the King of Spain and the Catholic League in France.
231	30 January 1592 – 3 March 1605 (13 years, 32 days)	Pope Clement VIII	Clement VIII CLEMENS Octavus	Ippolito Aldobrandini	24 February 1536 Fano, Papal States	55 / 69	He started an alliance of Christian powers to fight against the Ottoman Empire.

Popes in the Modern Era: 17th to 21st Centuries

17th Century Popes

Popes of the 17th century

Pontiff number	Pontificate	Portrait	Name: English · Latin	Personal name	Date and Place of birth	Age at start/ end of papacy	Notes
232	1 April 1605 – 27 April 1605 (26 days)	Pope Leo XI	Leo XI LEO Undecimus	Alessandro Ottaviano de' Medici	2 June 1535 Florence, Duchy of Florence	69 / 69	He was the great-nephew of Leo X. He was called the "Lightning Pope" because his time as pope was very short.
233	16 May 1605 – 28 January 1621 (15 years, 257 days)	Pope Paul V	Paul V PAVLVS Quintus	Camillo Borghese	17 September 1550 Rome, Papal States	54/ 70	He was known for funding many building projects, including the front of St. Peter's Basilica. He also established the Bank of the Holy Spirit.
234	9 February 1621 – 8 July 1623 (2 years, 149 days)	Pope Gregory XV	Gregory XV GREGORIVS Quintus Decimus	Alessandro Ludovisi	9 January 1554 Bologna, Papal States	67 / 69	He made it a rule for papal elections to be by secret ballot. He also established the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith to spread Christianity.
235	6 August 1623 – 29 July 1644 (20 years, 358 days)	Pope Urban VIII	Urban VIII VRBANVS Octavus	Maffeo Vincenzo Barberini	5 April 1568 Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany	55 / 76	He issued a rule that made using tobacco in holy places punishable by excommunication. He was involved in the trial against Galileo Galilei.
236	15 September 1644 – 7 January 1655 (10 years, 114 days)	Pope Innocent X	Innocent X INNOCENTIVS Decimus	Giovanni Battista Pamphili	6 May 1574 Rome, Papal States	70 / 80	He was the great-great-great-grandson of Alexander VI. He built the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi in Rome.
237	7 April 1655 – 22 May 1667 (12 years, 45 days)	Pope Alexander VII	Alexander VII ALEXANDER Septimus	Fabio Chigi	13 February 1599 Siena, Grand Duchy of Tuscany	56 / 68	He was the great-nephew of Paul V. He commissioned St. Peter's Square.
238	20 June 1667 – 9 December 1669 (2 years, 172 days)	Pope Clement IX	Clement IX CLEMENS Nonus	Giulio Rospigliosi	28 January 1600 Pistoia, Grand Duchy of Tuscany	67 / 69	He helped mediate a peace treaty.
239	29 April 1670 – 22 July 1676 (6 years, 84 days)	Pope Clement X	Clement X CLEMENS Decimus	Emilio Bonaventura Altieri	13 July 1590 Rome, Papal States	79 / 86	He made St Rose of Lima the first saint from the Americas in 1671.
240	21 September 1676 – 12 August 1689 (12 years, 325 days)	Pope Innocent XI	Bl. Innocent XI INNOCENTIVS Undecimus	Benedetto Odescalchi	16 May 1611 Como, Duchy of Milan	65 / 78	He started the Holy League.
241	6 October 1689 – 1 February 1691 (1 year, 118 days)	Pope Alexander VIII	Alexander VIII ALEXANDER Octavus	Pietro Vito Ottoboni	22 April 1610 Venice, Republic of Venice	79 / 80
242	12 July 1691 – 27 September 1700 (9 years, 77 days)	Pope Innocent XII	Innocent XII INNOCENTIVS Duodecimus	Antonio Pignatelli	13 March 1615 Spinazzola, Kingdom of Naples	76 / 85	He issued a rule to stop favoritism (nepotism). He also built many charities and schools.
243	23 November 1700 – 19 March 1721 (20 years, 116 days)	Pope Clement XI	Clement XI CLEMENS Undecimus	Giovanni Francesco Albani	23 July 1649 Urbino, Papal States	51 / 71	He supported the first archaeological digs in the Roman catacombs. The Church's ban on reprinting Galileo's works was lifted during his time.

18th Century Popes

Popes of the 18th century

Pontiff number	Pontificate	Portrait	Name: English · Latin	Personal name	Date and Place of birth	Age at start/ end of papacy	Notes
244	8 May 1721 – 7 March 1724 (2 years, 304 days)	Pope Innocent XIII	Innocent XIII INNOCENTIVS Tertius Decimus	Michelangelo dei Conti	13 May 1655 Poli, Papal States	65 / 68	He stopped the Jesuits from continuing their mission in China.
245	29 May 1724 – 21 February 1730 (5 years, 268 days)	Pope Benedict XIII	Servant of God Benedict XIII BENEDICTVS Tertius Decimus	Pierfrancesco Orsini, O.P.	2 February 1649 Gravina in Puglia, Kingdom of Naples	75 / 81	He was a member of the Dominican Order. He was the third and last pope from the Orsini family. He lifted the worldwide ban on smoking.
246	12 July 1730 – 6 February 1740 (9 years, 209 days)	Pope Clement XII	Clement XII CLEMENS Duodecimus	Lorenzo Corsini	7 April 1652 Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany	78 / 87	He commissioned the Trevi Fountain in Rome (1732). He also condemned Freemasonry.
247	17 August 1740 – 3 May 1758 (17 years, 259 days)	Pope Benedict XIV	Benedict XIV BENEDICTVS Quartus Decimus	Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini	31 March 1675 Bologna, Papal States	65 / 83	He reformed the education of priests and the calendar of feasts. He also founded academies for art, liturgy, religion, and science. He allowed the publication of Galileo's scientific works.
248	6 July 1758 – 2 February 1769 (10 years, 211 days)	Pope Clement XIII	Clement XIII CLEMENS Tertius Decimus	Carlo della Torre di Rezzonico	7 March 1693 Venice, Republic of Venice	65 / 75	He added fig leaves to nude statues in the Vatican. He defended the Jesuits.
249	19 May 1769 – 22 September 1774 (5 years, 126 days)	Pope Clement XIV	Clement XIV CLEMENS Quartus Decimus	Giovanni Vincenzo Antonio Ganganelli, O.F.M. Conv.	31 October 1705 Sant' Arcangelo di Romagna, Papal States	63 / 68	He was a member of the Conventual Franciscan Order. He suppressed the Jesuits in 1773.
250	15 February 1775 – 29 August 1799 (24 years, 195 days)	Pope Pius VI	Pius VI PIVS Sextus	Giovanni Angelo Onofrio Melchiorre Natale Antonio Braschi	25 December 1717 Cesena, Papal States	57 / 81	He spoke out against the French Revolution. He was removed from the Papal States by the French and died a prisoner.
—	29 August 1799 – 14 March 1800 (197 days)		Interregnum				There was a six-month period without a pope due to difficult circumstances, as the previous pope had died as a prisoner.
251	14 March 1800 – 20 August 1823 (23 years, 159 days)	Pope Pius VII	Servant of God Pius VII PIVS Septimus	Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti, O.S.B.	14 August 1742 Cesena, Papal States	57 / 81	He was a member of the Order of Saint Benedict. He was present at Napoleon's coronation as emperor. He was also removed from the Papal States by the French for a time. He brought back the Jesuits in 1814.

19th Century Popes

Popes of the 19th century

Pontiff number	Pontificate	Portrait	Name: English · Latin	Personal name	Date and Place of birth	Age at start/ end of papacy	Notes
252	28 September 1823 – 10 February 1829 (5 years, 135 days)	Pope Leo XII	Leo XII LEO Duodecimus	Annibale Francesco Clemente Melchiorre Girolamo Nicola della Genga	22 August 1760 Genga, Papal States	63 / 68	He put Catholic education under the control of the Jesuits. He also spoke out against Freemasonry.
253	31 March 1829 – 30 November 1830 (1 year, 244 days)	Pope Pius VIII	Pius VIII PIVS Octavus	Francesco Saverio Maria Felice Castiglioni	20 November 1761 Cingoli, Papal States	67 / 69	He accepted Louis Philippe I as King of the French. He spoke out against secret societies and modern Bible translations.
254	2 February 1831 – 1 June 1846 (15 years, 119 days)	Pope Gregory XVI	Gregory XVI GREGORIVS Sextus Decimus	Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari, O.S.B. Cam.	18 September 1765 Belluno, Republic of Venice	65 / 80	He was a member of the Camaldolese. He was the last non-bishop to be elected pope. He was against democratic reforms in the Papal States. During his time, the Church removed all bans on works that supported the idea of the Earth revolving around the Sun.
255	16 June 1846 – 7 February 1878 (31 years, 236 days)	Pope Pius IX	Bl. Pius IX PIVS Nonus	Giovanni Maria Battista Pietro Pellegrino Isidoro Mastai-Ferretti	13 May 1792 Senigallia, Papal States	54 / 85	He defined the beliefs of the Immaculate Conception and papal infallibility. He lost the Papal States to Italy in 1870. He was the longest-reigning pope since Peter. He was the first pope to be photographed. During his time, scientists like Gregor Mendel and Charles Darwin published important works. The Catholic Church has always allowed for biblical texts to be understood in ways that fit with scientific discoveries.
256	20 February 1878 – 20 July 1903 (25 years, 150 days)	Pope Leo XIII	Leo XIII LEO Tertius Decimus	Gioacchino Vincenzo Raffaele Luigi Pecci	2 March 1810 Carpineto Romano, French Empire	67 / 93	He was the fourth-longest reigning pope. He supported Christian democracy against Communism. He was the first pope to be filmed and have his voice recorded. He was also the oldest verified pope in office.

20th Century Popes

Popes of the 20th century

Pontiff number	Pontificate	Portrait	Name: English · Latin	Personal name	Date and Place of birth	Age at start/ end of papacy	Notes
257	4 August 1903 – 20 August 1914 (11 years, 16 days)	Pope Pius X	St Pius X PIVS Decimus	Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto	2 June 1835 Riese, Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia, Austrian Empire	68 / 79	He focused on the Eucharist. He also fought against certain modern ideas in the Church.
258	3 September 1914 – 22 January 1922 (7 years, 141 days)	Pope Benedict XV	Benedict XV BENEDICTVS Quintus Decimus	Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa	21 November 1854 Pegli, Kingdom of Sardinia	59 / 67	He is remembered for trying to bring peace during World War I. He also reversed the ban on betting on papal elections.
259	6 February 1922 – 10 February 1939 (17 years, 4 days)	Pope Pius XI	Pius XI PIVS Undecimus	Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti	31 May 1857 Desio, Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia, Austrian Empire	64 / 81	He signed the Lateran Treaty with Italy in 1929, which created Vatican City as its own country. He also started Vatican Radio and opposed Nazism and Communism.
260	2 March 1939 – 9 October 1958 (19 years, 221 days)	Pope Pius XII	Ven. Pius XII PIVS Duodecimus	Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli	2 March 1876 Rome, Kingdom of Italy	63 / 82	He was the first pope born after the unification of Italy. He tried to bring peace during World War II. He also defined the belief of the Assumption. He published a document that took a neutral stance on human evolution.
261	28 October 1958 – 3 June 1963 (4 years, 218 days)	Pope John XXIII	St John XXIII IOANNES Vicesimus Tertius	Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli	25 November 1881 Sotto il Monte, Kingdom of Italy	76 / 81	He opened the Second Vatican Council (1962), a very important meeting for the Church. He also helped bring peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962). He was known as "Good Pope John."
262	21 June 1963 – 6 August 1978 (15 years, 46 days)	Pope Paul VI	St Paul VI PAVLVS Sextus	Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini	26 September 1897 Concesio, Kingdom of Italy	65 / 80	He was the last pope to be crowned. He was the first pope since 1809 to travel outside Italy. He closed the Second Vatican Council (1965). He also met with Eastern Orthodox leaders to improve relations between the churches.
263	26 August 1978 – 28 September 1978 (33 days)	Pope John Paul I	Bl. John Paul I IOANNES PAVLVS Primus	Albino Luciani	17 October 1912 Forno di Canale, Kingdom of Italy	65 / 65	He was the most recent Italian pope. He was the first pope born in the twentieth century. He chose not to have a coronation. He died just 33 days after being elected.
264	16 October 1978 – 2 April 2005 (26 years, 168 days)	Pope John Paul II	St John Paul II IOANNES PAVLVS Secundus	Karol Józef Wojtyła	18 May 1920 Wadowice, Republic of Poland	58 / 84	He was the first pope from Poland and the first non-Italian pope since 1523. He was the third-longest reigning pope. He traveled to many countries. He also started World Youth Day. He canonized more saints than any of his predecessors. He was the first to use the popemobile.

21st Century Popes

Popes of the 21st century

Pontiff number	Pontificate	Portrait	Name: English · Latin	Personal name	Date and Place of birth	Age at start/ end of papacy	Notes
265	19 April 2005 – 28 February 2013 (7 years, 315 days)	Pope Benedict XVI	Benedict XVI BENEDICTVS Sextus Decimus	Joseph Alois Ratzinger	16 April 1927 Marktl, Bavaria, German Reich	78 / 85 (†95)	He was the first German pope since 1058. He promoted the use of Latin. He was the first pope to step down from his role since 1415, becoming pope emeritus. He was the longest-lived pope on record, dying at 95 years old.
266	13 March 2013 – 21 April 2025 (12 years, 39 days)	Pope Francis	Francis FRANCISCVS	Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J.	17 December 1936 Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic	76 / 88	He is the first pope born outside Europe since 741, and the first from the Americas. He is also the first Jesuit pope. He is the first pope to use a new and unique papal name since 914. He issued an important document about global warming. He also helped improve relations between the US and Cuba. He was the first pope to visit and celebrate Mass on the Arabian Peninsula.
267	8 May 2025 – present (40 days)	Pope Leo XIV	Leo XIV LEO Quartus Decimus	Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A.	14 September 1955 Chicago, Illinois, United States of America	69	He is the first pope born in the United States and the first from North America. He is also the second pope from an English-speaking country. He is the first pope born after World War II. He is the first Augustinian pope.

Popes from Religious Orders

Many popes have come from religious orders, which are communities of men dedicated to a specific spiritual life.

• Benedictines (O.S.B.): 22 popes, including St. Gregory the Great and Urban V.
• Franciscans (O.F.M.): 5 popes, including Sixtus IV and Julius II.
• Dominicans (O.P.): 4 popes, including St. Pius V and Benedict XIII.
• Jesuits (S.J.): 1 pope, Francis.

Why are the numbers of some popes confusing?

Sometimes, the numbering of popes can be tricky. This is usually due to historical mistakes or confusion over who was a legitimate pope.

• Stephen: A man named Stephen was elected in 752 but died before he could be officially made pope. For centuries, he was called Stephen II. In 1961, the Church removed him from the official list. This is why the pope who used to be called Stephen III is now known as Stephen II.
• John: The numbering for popes named John is the most confusing. Antipope John XVI was mistakenly counted for a long time. Later, Pope John XXI skipped the number XX because he thought there had been a John XX, which was an error.
• Felix: Antipope Felix II was counted as a real pope for a long time, so the numbering includes him.

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Papas para niños

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