We conclude our course with an overview of the popes of the last 150 years, highlighting some of the interesting but often little known details about these recent popes. We also look at some of the statistics of the oldest popes and longest reigning popes, etc.
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The History of the Popes
The Good, the Bad, and the Phony
Session 8, The Popes of Recent Days
You are Peter, and upon this Rock I will build my Church. (Matthew 16:18)
I. Course Outline
[Introduction to the Papacy, The time of persecution, The early Middle Ages, The Holy Roman Empire, The late Middle Ages]
April 22 – The Popes of the Western Schism
April 29 – The Popes of the Modern Period and Protestant Reformation
May 6 – The Popes of Recent Days
II. Popes Before World War I
Gregory XVI: Pope from 1831-1846. He was the last non-bishop elected pope, though he was a cardinal. Although considered “reactionary,” he removed the last official opposition to heliocentrism in church teaching. He was elected after the longest conclave in modern times, which took 54 days and also involved the power of veto of the king of Spain. This royal veto was called the ius exclusivae (right of exclusion) or also the papal veto - it was never officially recognized by the Church but did have effective power, even as recently as the conclave which ended with the election of Pius X who then finally banned it in 1904.
Bl Pius IX: Pope from 1846-1878, he is the longest serving pope at nearly 32 years! His baptismal name was Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti. He is most famous for convoking the First Vatican Council, declaring Papal Infallibility and Ex Cathedra teachings, as well as declaring ex cathedra the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Also, during his reign, the Papal States were lost to the Kingdom of Italy in 1870. Although originally thought of as a “liberal,” he became increasingly a great defender of the tradition of the Church - especially the Syllabus of Errors. Pius IX is very important for the USA, he established the North American College in Rome! Beatified by St John Paul II in 2000. Also, he suffered from epilepsy as a child, but was cured and promised Mary to promote the Immaculate Conception - this kept him from a military career, but opened the path for the priesthood.
Leo XIII: Pope from 1878-1903. This is the third longest pontificate (25 years) after Pius IX and John Paul II - Pius IX followed by Leo XIII are by far the longest back to back papacies at over 57 years! This was extremely important during such a tumultuous time in Church history, with the loss of the papal states and the rise of secularism in the West. Leo XIII is most well known for his intellectual teachings and guidance of the Church, not so much through condemnations but through the brilliance of teaching. His encyclical Rerum Novarum is important for Catholic Social Teaching and he was also a great promoter of the theology Thomas Aquinas with a return to St Thomas’ writings (rather than later reactionary Thomists) and also commissioning the “Leonine Edition” of the works of St Thomas. He also promoted a healthy catholic approach to biblical scholarship. Finally, we mention that he wrote twelve encyclicals on the Rosary (and also is credited with writing the St Michael Prayer, and he established the prayers after low Mass).
St Pius X: Pope from 1903-1914. Born Giuseppe Sarto, Pius X is most famous for condemning modernism. He is also known for lowering the age for the reception of Holy Communion (to closer to the age of reason, around 7 or 8 or 9 years old), and it is argued that this intended also the lowering of Confirmation as well. Pius X did many other important things, including establishing the Diocese of Great Falls as separate from the Diocese of Helena, in 1904 (the name was changed to Great Falls - Billings in 1980). He is the co-patron of our Diocese.
III. Popes During the World Wars
Benedict XV: Pope from 1914-1922. He was the Pope during World War I and worked for peace. He added the triple invocation of the Sacred Heart to the Leonine Prayers after Mass, specifically as a prayer for peace.
Pius XI: Pope from 1922-1939. He was created a cardinal in June 1921 and elected pope less than eight months later! He also changed the time for the start of the conclave to begin not less than 15 days after the death of the pope (extended from 10 days).
Ven Pius XII: Pope from 1939-1958. Eugenio Pacelli was ordained a bishop 13 May 1917, the very day of the first apparition of Mary to the children of Fatima! He was the first pope known as the Fatima Pope, and promoted that apparition. He is maligned as “Hitler’s Pope” but this is nonsense.
IV. Popes after the World Wars
St John XXIII: Pope from 1958-1963. Angelo Roncalli is striking as having had only five years of pastoral ministry (as Patriarch of Venice) before being elected as pope. He is most well known for having convoked the Second Vatican Council, but is often very misunderstood. He was actually a very conservative and holy man - his spiritual autobiography is highly recommended, Journal of a Soul.
St Paul VI: Pope from 1963-1978. Baptized, Giovanni Montini. He is most famous for concluding the Second Vatican Council and implementing the Novus Ordo of the Mass, as well as for the encyclical Humanae Vitae which condemned contraception.
Bl John Paul I: Pope in 1978. Albino Luciani was elected in August 1978 and served as pope for only 33 days, making this the “year of three popes.” He is sometimes called the September Pope.
St John Paul II: Pope from 1978-2005. Karol Wojtyla shocked the world when elected Pope, being the first non-Italian in 455 years. He served as pope for 26 years, 168 days - making him the second longest reigning pope. He was revolutionary in making a global impact as pope, visiting 129 countries and also beatifying 1,344 individuals and canonizing 483 saints from all over the world. This is more saints and blesseds created than all those made in the preceding 500 years. He was miraculously saved from an assassination attempt on 13 May 1981 - which he attributed to Our Lady of Fatima. So much more could be said about this great pope!
Benedict XVI: Pope 2005-2013, for 7 years, 315 days. He was formerly Joseph Ratzinger, and was the first pope to resign since in 1294 (over 700 years before!). He died on December 31, 2022 after retiring on February 28, 2013; he was retired for longer than he was pope!
Francis: Pope 2013-2025. Baptized Jorge Bergolio. Died on 21 April 2025.
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V. Longest reigning Popes:
1. St Peter (around 34 years)
2. Bl Pius IX (1846-1878; 31 years, 7 months, 23 days).
3. John Paul II (1978-2005; 26 years, 5 months, 17 days).
4. Leo XIII (1878-1903; 25 years, 5 months, 1 day).
5. Pius VI (1775-1799; 24 years, 6 months, 15 days).
6. Adrian I (772-795; 23 years, 10 months, 25 days).
7. Pius VII (1800-1823; 23 years, 5 months, 7 days).
VI. Oldest Popes
1. Leo XIII; 1903, aged 93 years, 140 days.
2. Celestine II; 1198, aged 92 years.
3. Francis; 2025, aged 88 years, 124 days.
4. Gregory XII; 1417, aged 88 when resigned.
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7. Benedict XVI; 2018, aged 85 years, 318 days when resigned. Died at age 95, would have been the oldest by two years!
8. Pius IX; 1878, aged 85 years, 107 days.
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11. John Paul II; 2005, aged 84 years, 319 days.
12. John XXIII; 1963, aged 81 years, 189 days.
VII. Oldest Popes at time of election
1. Boniface VI; 896, aged 90 years (only lived 15 days as pope).
2. Celestine III; 1191, aged 86.
3. Gregory VIII; 1187, aged 82.
4. Lucius III; 1181, aged 81.
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13. Benedict XVI; 2005, aged 78.
14. John XXIII; 1958, aged 76 (almost 77).
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17. Francis; 2013, aged 76.
