The speedy two-day election of Pope Francis’s follower, Pope Leo XIV, marks among the fastest conclaves in current history.
However for how long do these occasions usually last?
While identifying the specific length of previous papal elections is tough due to the Vatican’s reticence on launching main ballot information, historic records provide some insights.
Prior to 1274, popes were periodically chosen the very same day their predecessor passed away. Nevertheless, the Church consequently mandated a waiting duration of a minimum of 10 days before the preliminary vote, later on reached 15 to accommodate travel time for cardinals getting here in Rome.
This two-day conclave stands in plain contrast to some historic elections which went for almost a week.
The quickest conclave observing the 10-day wait guideline appears to have actually been the 1503 election of Pope Julius II, who was chosen in simply a couple of hours, according to Vatican historian Ambrogio Piazzoni.
In more current times, Pope Francis was chosen in 2013 on the 5th tally, Benedict XVI won in 2005 on the 4th and Pope Pius XII won on the 3rd in 1939.
The longest conclave given that the 20th century started took 14 rounds of balloting throughout 5 days, ending with the election of Pius XI in 1922.
The fastest was the conclave that chose Pius XII in 1939, which took 3 tallies in 2 days.
Cardinals need to reach a two-thirds bulk to choose a pope. That was rather much easier in conclaves past: In 1922 there were simply 53 voting cardinals, and up until 1978 there were less than 100 each time.
This year there were 133, so 89 votes were required.
Here’s a take a look at the period of conclaves in current history, according to numerous sources consisting of Catholic and other Italian publications:
The period of conclaves in current historyHere’s a take a look at the period of conclaves in current history, according to numerous sources, consisting of Catholic and other Italian publications:
1914: Benedict XV: 10 tallies, 3 days1922: Pius XI: 14 tallies, 5 days1939: Pius XII: 3 tallies, 2 days1958: John XXIII: 11 tallies, 4 days1963: Paul VI: 5 or 6 tallies, 3 days1978: John Paul I: 4 tallies, 2 days1978: John Paul II: 8 tallies, 3 days2005: Benedict XVI: 4 tallies, 2 days2013: Francis: 5 tallies, 2 days