A pope traditionally serves for life, meaning their papacy lasts until death. However, there is no formal rule requiring a pope to serve for life, and resignation is possible if the pope chooses to step down freely, as Pope Benedict XVI did in 2013 due to declining health
. The average length of a papal reign is about seven years historically, but in modern times, since 1900, the average pontificate has been around 12 years
. Some popes have served for several decades, such as:
- St. Peter, the first pope, who served approximately 34 years (AD 30-64)
- Pope Pius IX, who reigned for over 31 years (1846–1878)
- Pope John Paul II, who served for over 26 years (1978–2005)
On the other hand, some popes have had very short reigns, lasting only days or weeks
. In summary, a pope can serve for life or until resignation, with reigns varying widely from days to several decades, and the average modern papacy lasting about 12 years.
