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The Pope is a Chicken!
Pope (and antipope) Endurance League

Place Pope Pontificate length Dates
1. Gregorius XVII (I) 57 years 6 months 22 days (1968-)
2. Peter II (I) 45 years 6 months 22 days (1980-)
3. Peter II (II) 40 years 6 months 22 days (1985-)
4. Valeriano I 35 years 6 months 22 days (1990-)
5. Michael I 34 years 11 months 6 days (1990-07-16-)
6. Petrus 34 years (33-67(?))
7. Pius IX 31 years 7 months 22 days (1846-06-16-1878-02-07)
8. Linus II 30 years 11 months 24 days (1994-06-29-)
9. Peter II (III) 30 years 6 months 22 days (1995-)
10. Gregorius XVII (II) 26 years 7 months 16 days (1978-08-06-2005-03-22)
11. Johannes Paulus II 26 years 5 months 17 days (1978-10-16-2005-04-02)
12. Leo XIII 25 years 5 months (1878-02-20-1903-07-20)
13. Gregorius XIX 24 years 6 months 22 days (2001-)
14. Pius VI 24 years 6 months 14 days (1775-02-15-1799-08-29)
15. Hadrianus I 23 years 10 months 24 days (772-02-01-795-12-25)
16. Pius VII 23 years 4 months 6 days (1800-03-14-1823-07-20)
17. Benedictus XIII (II) 22 years 9 months 28 days (1394-09-28-1417-07-26)
18. Alexander III 21 years 11 months 23 days (1159-09-07-1181-08-30)
19. Sylvester I 21 years 11 months (314-01-31-335-12-31)
20. Leo I 21 years 2 months 10 days (440-09-461-11-10)
21. Urban VIII 20 years 11 months 23 days (1623-08-06-1644-07-29)
22. Leo III 20 years 5 months 17 days (795-12-26-816-06-12)
23. Clemens XI 20 years 3 months 24 days (1700-11-23-1721-03-19)
24. Clemens III (II) 20 years 2 months 14 days (1080-06-25-1100-09-08)
25. Pius XII 19 years 7 months 7 days (1939-03-02-1958-10-09)
26. Paschal II 18 years 5 months 8 days (1099-08-13-1118-01-21)
26. Innocentius III 18 years 5 months 8 days (1198-01-08-1216-06-16)
28. Johannes XXII 18 years 3 months 27 days (1316-08-07-1334-12-04)
29. Damasus I 18 years 2 months 10 days (366-10-01-384-12-11)
30. Vigilius 18 years 2 months 9 days (537-03-29-555-06-07)
31. Zephyrinus 18 years (199-217)
31. Hippolytus 18 years (217-235)
33. Benedictus XIV 17 years 8 months 16 days (1740-08-17-1758-05-03)
34. Pius XI 17 years 4 days (1922-02-06-1939-02-10)
35. Gregorius IV 16 years 3 months 25 days (827-10(?)-844-01-25)
36. Clemens VII (II) 15 years 11 months 27 days (1378-09-20-1394-09-16)
37. Eugenius IV 15 years 11 months 20 days (1431-03-03-1447-02-23)
38. Gregorius II 15 years 8 months 23 days (715-05-19-731-02-11)
39. Paulus V 15 years 8 months 12 days (1605-05-16-1621-01-28)
40. Symmachus 15 years 7 months 27 days (498-11-22-514-07-19)
41. Gregorius XVI 15 years 3 months 30 days (1831-02-02-1846-06-01)
42. Innocentius I 15 years 2 months 19 days (401-12-21-417-03-12)
43. Julius I 15 years 2 months 6 days (337-02-06-352-04-12)
44. Paulus VI 15 years 1 month 16 days (1963-06-21-1978-08-06)
45. Paulus III 15 years 29 days (1534-10-12-1549-11-10)
46. Simplicius 15 years 7 days (468-03-03-483-03-10)
47. Eleutherus 15 years (174-189(?))
48. Siricus 14 years 11 months 26 days (384-12-399-11-26)
49. Bonifatius IX 14 years 10 months 29 days (1389-11-02-1404-10-01)
50. Vitalianus 14 years 6 months 27 days (657-07(?)-672-01-27)
51. Gregorius IX 14 years 5 months 3 days (1227-03-19-1241-08-22)
52. Liberius 14 years 4 months 7 days (352-05-17-366-09-24)
53. Johannes X 14 years 2 months (914-03-928-05)
54. Fabian 14 years 10 days (236-01-10-250-01-20)
55. Gregorius XVIII 13 years 11 months 7 days (2011-07-15-)
56. Sergius I 13 years 8 months 24 days (687-12-15-701-09-08)
57. Pius I 13 years 7 months 11 days (142-155-07-11)
58. Innocentius II 13 years 7 months 10 days (1130-02-14-1143-09-24)
59. Gregorius I 13 years 6 months 9 days (590-09-03-604-03-12)
60. Martin V 13 years 3 months 9 days (1417-11-11-1431-02-20)
61. Clemens VIII 13 years 1 month 3 days (1592-01-30-1605-03-05)
62. Sixtus IV 13 years 3 days (1471-08-09-1484-08-12)
63. Cletus 13 years (78-91(?))
64. Johannes III 12 years 11 months 26 days (561-07-17-574-07-13)
65. Honorius I 12 years 11 months 15 days (625-10-27-638-10-12)
66. Gregorius XIII 12 years 10 months 27 days (1572-05-14-1585-04-10)
67. Innocentius XI 12 years 10 months 22 days (1676-09-21-1689-08-12)
68. Gajus 12 years 4 months 5 days (283-12-17-296-04-22)
69. Alexander VII 12 years 1 month 15 days (1655-04-07-1667-05-22)
70. Franciscus 12 years 1 month 8 days (2013-03-13-2025-04-21)
71. Gregorius VII 12 years 1 month 3 days (1073-04-22-1085-05-25)
72. Benedictus VIII 11 years 10 months 22 days (1012-05-18-1024-04-09)
73. Benedictus IX 11 years 10 months 10 days (1032-10-21-1044-09)
74. Alexander II 11 years 6 months 22 days (1061-09-30-1073-04-21)
75. Urban VI 11 years 6 months 7 days (1378-04-08-1389-10-15)
76. Innocentius IV 11 years 5 months 12 days (1243-06-25-1254-12-07)
77. Urban II 11 years 4 months 17 days (1088-03-12-1099-07-29)
78. Pius XIII 11 years 1 month 6 days (1998-10-24-2009-11-30)
79. Pius X 11 years 11 days (1903-08-09-1914-08-20)
80. Alexander VI 11 years 7 days (1492-08-11-1503-08-18)
81. Telesphorus 11 years (125-136)
81. Emmanuel I 11 years (1973-1984)
83. Felix II 10 years 11 months 22 days (355-365-11-22)
84. Gregorius XII 10 years 10 months 18 days (1406-11-30-1417-10-18)
85. Clemens VII 10 years 10 months 7 days (1523-11-18-1534-09-25)
86. Gregorius III 10 years 8 months 10 days (731-03-18-741-11-28)
87. Honorius III 10 years 8 months (1216-07-18-1227-03-18)
88. Johannes XV 10 years 7 months (985-08-996-03)
89. Clemens VI 10 years 6 months 29 days (1342-05-07-1352-12-06)
90. Clemens XIII 10 years 6 months 27 days (1758-07-06-1769-02-02)
91. Innocentius X 10 years 3 months 17 days (1644-09-15-1655-01-01)
92. Zacharias 10 years 3 months 12 days (741-12-03-752-03-15)
93. Anicetus 10 years 3 months (155-09(?)-166)
94. Pelagius II 10 years 2 months 12 days (579-11-26-590-02-07)
95. Paulus I 10 years 30 days (757-05-29-767-06-28)
96. Johannes VIII 10 years 2 days (872-12-14-882-12-16)
97. Linus 10 years (68-78(?))
97. Clemens I 10 years (91-101(?))
97. Victor I 10 years (189-199)
100. Calixtus III (II) 9 years 11 months 9 days (1168-09-20-1178-08-29)
101. Celestinus I 9 years 10 months 17 days (422-09-10-432-07-27)
102. Innocentius VI 9 years 8 months 25 days (1352-12-18-1362-09-12)
103. Clemens XII 9 years 6 months 25 days (1730-07-12-1740-02-06)
104. Nicholaas I 9 years 6 months 20 days (858-04-24-867-11-13)
104. Agapetus II 9 years 6 months 20 days (946-05-10-955-12)
106. Dionysius 9 years 5 months 4 days (259-07-22-268-12-26)
107. Felix V 9 years 5 months 2 days (1439-11-05-1449-04-07)
108. Julius II 9 years 3 months 20 days (1503-11-01-1513-02-21)
109. Innocentius XII 9 years 2 months 15 days (1691-07-12-1700-09-27)
110. Hormisdas 9 years 17 days (514-07-20-523-08-06)
111. Felix III 8 years 11 months 16 days (483-03-13-492-03-01)
112. Eutychian 8 years 11 months 3 days (275-01-04-283-12-07)
113. Clemens V 8 years 10 months 15 days (1305-06-05-1314-04-20)
114. Bonifatius VIII 8 years 9 months 17 days (1294-12-24-1303-10-11)
115. Benedictus VII 8 years 9 months 10 days (974-10-983-07-10)
116. Leo X 8 years 8 months 20 days (1513-03-11-1521-12-01)
117. Johannes XIX 8 years 6 months 1 day (1024-04-19-1032-10-20)
118. Eugenius III 8 years 4 months 23 days (1145-02-15-1153-07-08)
119. Leo IV 8 years 3 months (847-04-10-855-07-10)
120. Urban V 8 years 2 months 21 days (1362-09-28-1370-12-19)
121. Sixtus III 8 years 19 days (432-07-31-440-08-19)
122. Nicolaus V 8 years 18 days (1447-03-06-1455-03-24)
123. Evaristus 8 years (101-109(?))
123. Sixtus I 8 years (117-125)
123. Soter 8 years (166-174(?))
123. Urban I 8 years (222-230)
127. Johannes XII 7 years 11 months 18 days (955-12-16-963-12-04)
128. Anacletus II 7 years 11 months 11 days (1130-02-14-1138-01-25)
129. Innocentius VIII 7 years 10 months 26 days (1484-08-29-1492-07-25)
130. Benedictus XVI 7 years 10 months 9 days (2005-04-19-2013-02-28)
131. Alexander I 7 years 5 months 3 days (109-116-05-03)
132. Marcellinus 7 years 5 months (296-06-30-304)
133. Benedictus XV 7 years 4 months 19 days (1914-09-03-1922-01-22)
134. Benedictus XII 7 years 4 months 5 days (1334-12-20-1342-04-25)
135. Gregorius XI 7 years 3 months 7 days (1370-12-20-1378-03-27)
136. Sergius III 7 years 2 months 16 days (904-01-29-911-04-14)
137. Paschal I 7 years 18 days (817-01-24-824-02-11)
138. Constantinus 7 years 15 days (708-03-25-715-04-09)
139. Johannes XIII 6 years 11 months 5 days (965-10-01-972-09-06)
140. Paulus II 6 years 10 months 26 days (1464-08-30-1471-07-26)
141. Celestinus III 6 years 9 months 9 days (1191-03-30-1198-01-08)
142. Novatianus 6 years 9 months (251-03-258)
143. Bonifatius IV 6 years 7 months 23 days (608-09-15-615-05-08)
144. Theodor I 6 years 5 months 20 days (642-11-24-649-05-14)
145. Alexander IV 6 years 5 months 13 days (1254-12-12-1261-05-25)
146. Pius V 6 years 4 months (1566-01-01-1572-05-01)
147. Peter II (IV) 6 years 3 months 22 days (2005-03-23-2011-07-15)
148. Hilarius 6 years 3 months 12 days (461-11-17-468-02-29)
149. Clemens X 6 years 2 months 23 days (1670-04-29-1676-07-22)
150. Clemens VIII (II) 6 years 1 month 16 days (1423-06-10-1429-07-26)
151. Stefan VI 6 years 14 days (885-09-891-09-14)
152. Pius II 5 years 11 months 28 days (1458-08-18-1464-08-15)
153. Felix I 5 years 11 months 25 days (269-01-05-274-12-30)
154. Pius IV 5 years 11 months 14 days (1559-12-25-1565-12-09)
155. Calixtus II 5 years 10 months 12 days (1119-02-01-1124-12-13)
156. Bonifatius V 5 years 10 months 2 days (619-12-23-625-10-25)
157. Benedictus XIII 5 years 8 months 23 days (1724-05-29-1730-02-21)
158. Johannes XVIII 5 years 6 months 5 days (1003-12-25-1009-07)
159. Sylvester IV 5 years 4 months 25 days (1105-11-18-1111-04-12)
160. Leo XII 5 years 4 months 13 days (1823-09-28-1829-02-10)
161. Sixtus V 5 years 4 months 3 days (1585-04-24-1590-08-27)
161. Clemens XIV 5 years 4 months 3 days (1769-05-19-1774-09-22)
163. Pontian 5 years 2 months 7 days (230-07-21-235-09-28)
163. Leo IX 5 years 2 months 7 days (1049-02-12-1054-04-19)
165. Honorius II 5 years 1 month 23 days (1124-12-21-1130-02-13)
166. Julius III 5 years 1 month 15 days (1550-02-08-1555-03-23)
167. Stefan III 5 years 1 month (752-03-26-757-04-26)
168. Calixtus I 5 years (217-222)
168. Laurentius 5 years (501-506)
168. Clemens XV 5 years (1963-1968)
171. Hadrianus II 4 years 10 months 17 days (867-12-14-872-11)
172. Pelagius I 4 years 10 months 15 days (556-04-16-561-03-03)
173. Johannes XI 4 years 10 months (931-02-935-12)
174. Johannes XXIII (II) 4 years 9 months 13 days (1410-05-17-1415-03-02)
175. Hadrianus IV 4 years 8 months 28 days (1154-12-04-1159-09-01)
176. Gelasius I 4 years 8 months 20 days (492-03-01-496-11-21)
177. Victor IV (II) 4 years 7 months 13 days (1159-09-07-1164-04-20)
178. Johannes XXIII 4 years 7 months 6 days (1958-10-28-1963-06-03)
179. Formosus 4 years 6 months 16 days (891-09-19-896-04-04)
180. Stefan IV 4 years 5 months 17 days (767-08-07-772-01-24)
181. Paschalis III 4 years 4 months 29 days (1164-04-22-1168-09-20)
182. Gregorius X 4 years 4 months 9 days (1271-09-01-1276-01-10)
183. Paulus IV 4 years 2 months 26 days (1555-05-23-1559-08-18)
184. Lucius III 4 years 2 months 24 days (1181-09-01-1185-11-25)
185. Martin I 4 years 2 months 11 days (649-07-05-653-09-16)
186. Felix IV 4 years 2 months 10 days (526-07-12-530-09-22)
187. Deusdedit II 4 years 2 months 6 days (672-04-11-676-06-17)
188. Benedictus I 4 years 1 month 28 days (575-06-02-579-07-30)
189. Nicolaus IV 4 years 1 month 13 days (1288-02-22-1292-04-04)
190. Sylvester II 4 years 1 month 10 days (999-04-02-1003-05-12)
191. Martin IV 4 years 1 month 6 days (1281-02-22-1285-03-28)
192. Benedictus XIV (II) 4 years 18 days (1425-11-12-1430)
193. Hyginus 4 years (138-142(?))
193. Pius XIV 4 years (1998-2002)
195. Clemens IV 3 years 9 months 14 days (1265-02-05-1268-11-19)
196. Bonifatius I 3 years 8 months 7 days (418-12-28-422-09-04)
197. Leo VII 3 years 6 months 10 days (936-01-03-939-07-13)
198. Marinus II 3 years 6 months (942-10-30-946-05)
199. Calixtus III 3 years 3 months 29 days (1455-04-08-1458-08-06)
200. Stefan I 3 years 2 months 21 days (254-05-12-257-08-02)
201. Stefan IX 3 years 2 months 16 days (939-07-14-942-10)
202. Johannes VI 3 years 2 months 12 days (701-10-30-705-01-11)
203. Clemens III 3 years 2 months 9 days (1187-12-19-1191-03)
204. Eugenius II 3 years 2 months (824-06-827-08)
204. Benedictus IV 3 years 2 months (900-06-903-08)
206. Gregorius VIII (II) 3 years 1 month 14 days (1118-03-08-1121-04-22)
207. Urban IV 3 years 1 month 3 days (1261-08-29-1264-10-02)
208. Sergius II 3 years 27 days (844-01-847-01-27)
209. Deusdedit I 3 years 20 days (615-10-19-618-11-08)
210. Innocentius XIII 2 years 9 months 27 days (1721-05-08-1724-03-07)
211. Gregorius V 2 years 9 months 15 days (996-05-03-999-02-18)
212. Sergius IV 2 years 9 months 11 days (1009-07-31-1012-05-12)
213. Johannes I 2 years 9 months 5 days (523-08-13-526-05-18)
214. Nicolaus III 2 years 8 months 28 days (1277-11-25-1280-08-22)
215. Johannes VII 2 years 7 months 17 days (705-03-01-707-10-18)
216. Nicolaus II 2 years 7 months 13 days (1058-12-06-1061-07-19)
217. Honorius II (II) 2 years 7 months 3 days (1061-10-28-1064-05-31)
218. Benedictus III 2 years 6 months 19 days (855-09-29-858-04-17)
219. Agatho 2 years 6 months 14 days (678-06-27-681-01-10)
220. Militiades 2 years 6 months 9 days (311-07-02-314-01-11)
221. Clemens IX 2 years 5 months 19 days (1667-06-20-1669-12-09)
222. Johannes VIII (Johanna) 2 years 5 months (855-09-858-02)
223. Gregorius XV 2 years 4 months 29 days (1621-02-09-1623-07-08)
224. Benedictus VI 2 years 4 months 12 days (972-01-19-974-06)
225. Johannes II 2 years 4 months 5 days (533-01-03-535-05-08)
226. Victor II 2 years 3 months 15 days (1055-04-13-1057-07-28)
227. Cornelius 2 years 3 months (251-03-253-06)
228. Nicolaus V (II) 2 years 2 months 13 days (1328-05-12-1330-07-25)
229. Anastasius III 2 years 2 months (911-06-913-08)
229. Stefan VIII 2 years 2 months (928-12-931-02)
231. Bonifatius II 2 years 25 days (530-09-22-532-10-17)
232. Anastasius I 2 years 22 days (399-11-27-401-12-19)
233. Innocentius VII 2 years 20 days (1404-10-17-1406-11-06)
234. Honorius IV 2 years 1 day (1285-04-02-1287-04-03)
235. Johannes IX 2 years (898-01-900-01)
236. Anastasius II 1 year 11 months 26 days (496-11-24-498-11-19)
237. Urban III 1 year 10 months 25 days (1185-11-25-1187-10-20)
238. Eugenius I 1 year 9 months 23 days (655-08-10-657-06-02)
239. Johannes IV 1 year 9 months 18 days (640-12-24-642-10-12)
240. Benedictus IX 1 year 9 months 14 days (1045-03-10-1046-12-24)
241. Zosimus 1 year 9 months 7 days (417-03-18-418-12-25)
242. Hadrianus VI 1 year 8 months 5 days (1522-01-09-1523-09-14)
243. Pius VIII 1 year 7 months 30 days (1829-03-31-1830-11-30)
244. Gregorius VI 1 year 7 months 19 days (1045-05-01-1046-12-20)
245. Sabinianus 1 year 5 months 9 days (604-09-13-606-02-22)
245. Donus 1 year 5 months 9 days (676-11-02-678-04-11)
247. Sylverius 1 year 5 months 3 days (536-06-08-537-11-11)
248. Marinus I 1 year 4 months 29 days (882-12-16-884-05-15)
249. Anastasius IV 1 year 4 months 25 days (1153-07-08-1154-12-03)
250. Alexander VIII 1 year 3 months 26 days (1689-10-06-1691-02-01)
251. Victor III 1 year 3 months 23 days (1086-05-24-1087-09-16)
252. Hadrianus III 1 year 3 months 14 days (884-05-17-885-09)
253. Johannes XVI 1 year 3 months (997-02-998-05)
254. Stefan VII 1 year 2 months 9 days (896-05-22-897-08)
255. Ursinus 1 year 1 month 23 days (366-09-24-367-11-16)
256. Constantinus II 1 year 1 month 1 day (767-07-05-768-08-06)
257. Johannes V 1 year 10 days (685-07-23-686-08-02)
258. Gelasius II 1 year 5 days (1118-01-24-1119-01-29)
259. Sixtus II 11 months 16 days (257-08-21-258-08-06)
260. Agapetus I 11 months 9 days (535-05-13-536-04-22)
261. Lucius II 11 months 3 days (1144-03-12-1145-02-15)
262. Bonifatius VII 11 months (984-08-20-985-07-20)
263. Conon 10 months 26 days (686-10-26-687-09-21)
264. Leo II 10 months 16 days (682-08-17-683-07-03)
265. Benedictus II 10 months 12 days (684-06-26-685-05-08)
266. Gregorius XIV 10 months 11 days (1590-12-05-1591-10-16)
267. Alexander V 10 months 7 days (1409-06-26-1410-05-03)
268. Clemens II 9 months 14 days (1046-12-25-1047-10-09)
269. Benedictus X 8 months 26 days (1058-04-05-1059-01)
270. Bonifatius III 8 months 24 days (607-02-19-607-11-12)
271. Johannes XIV 8 months 20 days (983-12-984-08-20)
272. Markus 8 months 19 days (336-01-18-336-10-07)
273. Benedictus XI 8 months 15 days (1303-10-22-1304-07-07)
274. Johannes XXI 8 months 12 days (1276-09-08-1277-05-20)
275. Lucius I 8 months 8 days (253-06-25-254-03-05)
275. Benedictus IX 8 months 8 days (1047-11-08-1048-07-16)
277. Leo VIII 8 months 6 days (964-06-23-965-03-01)
278. Stefan X 7 months 27 days (1057-08-02-1058-03-29)
279. Gregorius VI (II) 7 months 7 days (1012-05-18-1012-12-25)
280. Stefan V 7 months 2 days (816-06-22-817-01-24)
281. Lando 7 months (913-08-914-03)
281. Leo VI 7 months (928-05-928-12)
283. Johannes XVII 6 months 20 days (1003-05-16-1003-12-06)
284. Eusebius 6 months 3 days (310-04-18-310-10-21)
285. Marcellus I 6 months (308-06-309)
286. Celestinus II 5 months 11 days (1143-09-25-1144-03-08)
287. Celestinus V 5 months 8 days (1294-07-05-1294-12-13)
288. Innocentius V 5 months 1 day (1276-01-21-1276-06-22)
289. Leo V 4 months (903-09-904-01)
289. Christoforus 4 months (903-09-904-01)
291. Theodoricus 3 months 23 days (1100-09-08-1101-01)
292. Eulalius 3 months 7 days (418-12-27-419-04-03)
293. Innocentius III (II) 3 months 2 days (1179-09-29-1180-01)
294. Romanus 3 months (897-08-897-11)
294. Laurentius 3 months (498-11-499-02)
296. Theodorus 2 months 24 days (687-09-21-687-12-15)
296. Paschalis 2 months 24 days (687-09-21-687-12-15)
298. Leo VIII 2 months 20 days (963-12-06-964-02-26)
299. Victor IV (I) 2 months 16 days (1138-03-13-1138-05-29)
300. Severinus 2 months 5 days (640-05-28-640-08-02)
301. Innocentius IX 2 months 1 day (1591-10-29-1591-12-30)
302. Gregorius VIII 1 month 26 days (1187-10-21-1187-12-17)
303. Sylvester III 1 month 18 days (1045-01-20-1045-03-10)
304. Leo XIV 1 month 14 days (2025-05-08-)
305. Anterus 1 month 13 days (235-11-21-236-01-03)
306. Hadrianus V 1 month 7 days (1276-07-11-1276-08-18)
307. Johannes Paulus I 1 month 2 days (1978-08-26-1978-09-28)
308. Benedictus V 1 month 1 day (964-05-22-964-06-23)
309. Valentinus 1 month (827-08-827-09)
309. Theofylactus 1 month (757-04-757-05?)
309. Anastasius III Bibliothecarius 1 month (855-08-855-09)
309. Bonifatius VII 1 month (974-06-974-07)
309. Adalbert 1 month (1101-03-1101-04)
314. Pius III 26 days (1503-09-22-1503-10-18)
314. Leo XI 26 days (1605-04-01-1605-04-27)
316. Damasus II 23 days (1048-07-17-1048-08-09)
317. Dioskurus 22 days (530-09-22-530-10-14)
318. Marcellus II 21 days (1555-04-10-1555-05-01)
319. Sisinnius 20 days (708-01-15-708-02-04)
319. Theodor II 20 days (897-11-01-897-11-21)
321. Celestinus IV 16 days (1241-10-25-1241-11-10)
322. Bonifatius VI 15 days (896-04-04-896-04-19)
323. Urban VII 12 days (1590-09-15-1590-09-27)
324. Johannes VIII (II) 6 days (844-01-25-844-02?)
324. Celestinus II (II) 6 days (1124-12-15-1124-12-21)
326. Stefan II 3 days (752-03-23-752-03-26)
327. Filippus 1 day (768-07-31-768-08-01)
328. Donus II (974-974)
Place Pope Pontificate length Dates

6 years 1 month 28 days
left to beat Hilarius.

FAQ:

Missing Popes

Where is Felix II?
When Felix III was elected pope, the antipope Felix II had not yet been removed from the official pope list. Hence, he thought he was the third pope called Felix.

Where are Martin II and III?
In 1281, when newly elected pope Simon de Brie was choosing his new name, Marinus I and Marinus II were listed as Martin II and Martin III. This was a mistake and caused Martin IV to choose the wrong number.

Where is Johannes XX?
A medieval mistake caused Pedro Julião, who was to be Johannes XX, to choose the wrong number. The reason for the confusion in the listing may be antipope Johannes VIII (II) who died in 844.

Where is Alexander V?
When Rodrigo Borgia, about a month before Columbus set out for America (or India if you will), was elected pope, he thought that Alexander V was a real pope. For that reason he took the name Alexander VI. Later it turned out that Alexander V was mearly an antipope.

Where are Johannes XVI, Benedictus X and Bonifatius VII?
God damn it! I don't know! How can I keep track of all these missing popes? They couldn't count back in those days. Okay?! Now leave me alone.

Suspicious Popes

What's up with Benedictus IX?
Theophylactus, who took the pope-name Benedictus IX, was one of the youngest popes ever. He was elected (possibly aged 11-12) in 1032. In 1044, he was deemed unsuitable and ejected. Soon, his forces reinstated him only to watch him resign and sell the title to a priest for 650 kg gold. He wanted to get married. However, he changed his mind a second time and regained the throne. After a few months, Henry III had had enough and threw Benedictus IX out for the last time. In the end, he was accused of simony and excommunicated.

What happened to Stefan II?
He was elected pope on march 23 752, but suffered a stroke and died just three days later. He was never properly ordained pope and the church just found another Stefan to put in his place. For this reason he is not always considered a real pope. Since other pope's pontificates are counted from the day of their election, it seems logical to include Stefan II among the popes. As late as the 1960's, his status was changed to "not pope" and then numbers of all following Stefans were changed. As you can see, this revision is not respected in this list.

Did Petrus really become pope in the year 33?
Probably not. Firstly, Jesus' birth and death dates are disputed, which reflects on Petrus, since he is supposed to have taken over as Jesus' deputy after crucifiction. Secondly, the very existance of Jesus has been questioned. We will not go into details, since that is a rather lengthy discussion, but if Jesus did not exist it is probable that Petrus also never existed. In that case, an interesting question is when the made-up popelist pass into historical fact.

What is an antipope?
An antopope is just an individual who claims to be pope, but is not accepted by the catholic church. In principle, one could be regarded an antipope just for calling oneself pope. In reality, though, one has to be supported by some sect or worldly leader. There has been almost fifty antipopes and right now there is three: Michael I, Linus II and Pius XIII.

Why are the antipopes on the toplist?
Hey, it was you who choose that list! Well, if you don't want them you can get rid of them: Exclude antipopes!.

Has Popess Joan existed?
Probably not. The dates for her (Johannes VIII (Johanna)) are calculated from the most common elements in the legends about the woman who became pope and was found out when she gave birth.

Are there any more popes that haven't existed?
Yes. Donus II was mistakenly inserted after Benedictus VI by someone who misstook the title dominus for the name Donus. Hence the uncertainty about his dates.

Copyright © Björn Andersson 2005, 2013