This marks the 267th conclave in the history of the Catholic Church, with 133 cardinal electors gathered in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to select the 267th Pope.
While papal elections can sometimes take several days, history has seen wide variations. In 1503, the election took just 10 hours, while the longest conclave on record lasted over 1,000 days, from 1268 to 1271.
However, recent tradition suggests that Pope Francis’ successor may be elected within five days. Over the last ten papal elections, the process has averaged about 10 ballots, rarely exceeding five days.
Breakdown of the past 10 Papal elections:
Pope Pius X
Elected in 1903 after 4 days and 7 ballots. Reigned until 1914.
Pope Benedict XV
Elected in 1914 after 3 days and 10 ballots. Reigned until 1922.
Pope Pius XI
Elected in 1922 after 5 days and 14 ballots. Reigned until 1939.
Pope Pius XII
Elected in 1939 after only 2 days and 3 ballots. Reigned until 1958.
Pope John XXIII
Elected in 1958 after 4 days and 11 ballots. Reigned until 1963.
Pope Paul VI
Elected in 1963 after 3 days and 6 ballots. Reigned until 1978.
Pope John Paul I
Elected in 1978 after 2 days and 4 ballots. Served for only 33 days.
Pope John Paul II
Elected later in 1978 after 3 days and 8 ballots. Reigned until 2005.
Pope Benedict XVI
Elected in 2005 after 2 days and 4 ballots. Resigned in 2013.
Pope Francis
Elected in 2013 after 2 days and 5 ballots. Led the Church until his passing in April 2025.
As the 2025 conclave proceeds, the world watches with anticipation as the cardinal electors seek divine guidance in selecting the next spiritual leader of over 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide.
