The longest-serving pope in history is traditionally recognized as Saint Peter, the first pope, who is believed to have served for approximately 34 to 37 years, from around 30 AD to 64 or 67 AD
. However, the exact dates of his papacy are not definitively recorded, leading some historical uncertainty. Among verified records, the longest confirmed papacy is that of Pope Pius IX, who reigned for 31 years, 7 months, and 23 days, from 1846 to 1878
. He holds the record for the longest verified reign in the history of the Catholic Church. Other notably long papacies include:
- Pope John Paul II: 26 years, 5 months, and 17 days (1978–2005)
- Pope Leo XIII: 25 years, 5 months, and 1 day (1878–1903)
In summary, Saint Peter is traditionally the longest-serving pope, but Pope Pius IX holds the longest verified papacy in recorded history.
