The length of a pope's reign varies significantly throughout history. Here are key points about papal reign durations:
- The longest confirmed papal reign was that of Pope Pius IX, who served for 31 years, 7 months, and 23 days (1846–1878)
- Pope John Paul II reigned for 26 years, 5 months, and 18 days (1978–2005)
- Pope Francis served as pope from March 13, 2013, until his death on April 21, 2025, a period of just over 12 years
- Historically, Saint Peter, regarded as the first pope, is traditionally said to have reigned approximately 34 to 37 years, though exact dates are uncertain and debated
- The average length of a pontificate since 1900 is about 12 years
In summary, papal reigns have ranged from a few weeks to over three decades, with most modern popes serving around a decade or more. Pope Francis' nearly 12-year pontificate was longer than the average of recent popes but shorter than the longest reigns in history
