Both of the past two popes — Benedict XVI in 2005 and Francis in 2013 — were elected in two days. For the past two centuries, each pope was selected within four days or fewer.
The cardinal electors will take Sunday off for prayer if a pope has not been selected by Saturday afternoon.
Although there were groans among the crowd when black smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney on Thursday, it was unlikely that the 133 cardinals would have reached a two-thirds majority in just three sessions of voting.
Popes Benedict XVI and Francis were both elected on the second day of voting, but only in the afternoon sessions. Benedict required four rounds; Francis took five.
But their elections were swift by historical standards.
Pope John Paul II, Benedict’s predecessor, took slightly longer. He was elected in 1978 on the third day of voting, in the eighth round.
The conclaves held earlier in the 20th century took more time. In 1903, it took five days of voting to elect Pope Pius X — the same number it took to elect Pius XI in 1922.
Although there were groans among the crowd when black smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney on Thursday, it was unlikely that the 133 cardinals would have reached a two-thirds majority in just three sessions of voting.
Popes Benedict XVI and Francis were both elected on the second day of voting, but only in the afternoon sessions. Benedict required four rounds; Francis took five.
But their elections were swift by historical standards.
Pope John Paul II, Benedict’s predecessor, took slightly longer. He was elected in 1978 on the third day of voting, in the eighth round.
The conclaves held earlier in the 20th century took more time. In 1903, it took five days of voting to elect Pope Pius X — the same number it took to elect Pius XI in 1922.
Papal conclaves in the last century only lasted a few days
All conclaves that took place in the 20th and 21st century concluded within a week of the cardinals gathering. The longest conclave on record lasted almost three years—from November 1268 to September 1271.
