The time it takes to pick a new pope varies widely, but modern papal conclaves typically last between 2 to 5 days. Historically, some conclaves took much longer-one of the longest lasted nearly three years in the 13th century
. In recent history, the 2005 conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI took two days, and the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis lasted just over a day
. The conclave begins 15 to 20 days after the papal seat becomes vacant, with cardinals gathering in the Sistine Chapel to vote in secret
. Voting usually occurs up to four times a day-once on the first afternoon, then twice each morning and afternoon thereafter. If no candidate achieves the required two-thirds majority within three days, voting is paused for a day to allow for prayer and discussion before resuming
. There is no fixed maximum length for a conclave; the cardinals continue voting until a candidate secures the necessary majority
. However, modern conclaves have not extended beyond about a week for nearly two centuries, with most concluding in just a few days
. In summary:
- Average length of modern conclaves: 2 to 5 days
- Shortest recent conclave: just over 1 day (2013)
- Longest conclave ever: nearly 3 years (1268–1271)
- Voting schedule: up to 4 votes per day after the first day
- No fixed time limit; voting continues until a two-thirds majority is reached
This process ensures a thorough but relatively swift selection of the new pope
