The age of popes at the time of their election has varied widely throughout history:
- Pope Francis was elected at age 76 in 2013, making him one of the older popes elected in recent times
- Pope Benedict XVI was elected at age 78 in 2005, one of the oldest in modern history
- Pope John Paul II was elected younger, at age 58 in 1978
- Historically, three popes were under age 25 at election, with the youngest being Pope Gregory V at age 24 in 996
- Several popes have been elected in their 60s and 70s, with the average age since 1800 being about 66
- A few popes were elected over age 80, the last being Pope Gregory XII at age 81 in 1406
- The youngest pope in history may have been Benedict IX, elected around age 20 in 1032
In summary, popes have been elected at ages ranging from about 20 to over 80, but in recent centuries, the typical age has been in the 60s to 70s. Pope Francis was 76 when he became pope, exemplifying the modern trend of electing older, more experienced churchmen
