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List of Popes throughout history: a complete timeline

When it comes to the Catholic Church, the papacy remains one of the oldest continuous institutions in the world. It has seen a long line of leaders guiding the Catholic Church over the centuries.

Each pope’s tenure has had its own impact on the Church and the world at large.

As the world mourns the death of Pope Francis, here is a list of popes of the Roman Catholic Church throughout history, along with the duration of their papacies.

From the early days of Saint Peter to the modern pontiffs, this compilation includes the men who have held the papal office and shaped religious, political, and cultural landscapes across time.

  1. St. Peter (32-67) – 34 years
  2. St. Linus (67-76) – 11–12 years
  3. St. Anacletus (Cletus) (76-88) – 12 years
  4. St. Clement I (88-97) – 9 years
  5. St. Evaristus (97-105) – 7–8 years
  6. St. Alexander I (105-115) – 10 years
  7. St. Sixtus I (115-125) Also called Xystus I – 10 years
  8. St. Telesphorus (125-136) – 11 years
  9. St. Hyginus (136-140) – 4 years
  10. St. Pius I (140-155) – 15 years
  11. St. Anicetus (155-166)  11–12 years
  12. St. Soter (166-175) – 8-9 years
  13. St. Eleutherius (175-189) – 14–15 years
  14. St. Victor I (189-199) – 9–10 years 
  15. St. Zephyrinus (199-217) – 18–19 years
  16. St. Callistus I (217-22) – 4 years; Callistus and the following three popes were opposed by St. Hippolytus, antipope (217-236)
  17. St. Urban I (222-30) – 7 years
  18. St. Pontian (230-35) – 5 years, 69 days
  19. St. Anterus (235-36) – 43 days
  20. St. Fabian (236-50) – 13 years, 344 days
  21. St. Cornelius (251-53) – 2 years, 3 months; Opposed by Novatian, antipope (251) – 7 years
  22. St. Lucius I (253-54) – 253 days
  23. St. Stephen I (254-257) – 3 years, 143 days
  24. St. Sixtus II (257-258) – 340 days
  25. St. Dionysius (260-268) – 9 years, 158 days
  26. St. Felix I (269-274) – 5 years, 359 days
  27. St. Eutychian (275-283) – 8 years, 337 days
  28. St. Caius (283-296) Also called Gaius – 12 years, 127 days
  29. St. Marcellinus (296-304) – 8 years, 117 days
  30. St. Marcellus I (308-309) –  234 days
  31. St. Eusebius (309 or 310) – 1 year, 121 days
  32. St. Miltiades (311-14) – 2 years, 192 days
  33. St. Sylvester I (314-35) – 21 years, 334 days
  34. St. Marcus (336) – 263 days
  35. St. Julius I (337-52) – 15 years, 66 days
  36. Liberius (352-66) – 14 years, 130 days; Opposed by Felix II, antipope (355-365) – 10 years
  37. St. Damasus I (366-84) – 18 years, 71 days; Opposed by Ursicinus, antipope (366-367) – 1 year, 46 days
  38. St. Siricius (384-99) – 14 years, 344 days
  39. St. Anastasius I (399-401) – 2 years, 22 days
  40. St. Innocent I (401-17) – 15 years, 81 days
  41. St. Zosimus (417-18) 15 years, 81 days
  42. St. Boniface I (418-22) 3 years, 250 days; Opposed by Eulalius, antipope (418-419) – 97 days
  43. St. Celestine I (422-32) – 9 years, 321 days
  44. St. Sixtus III (432-40) – 8 years, 18 days
  45. St. Leo I (the Great) (440-61) – 21 years, 42 days
  46. St. Hilarius (461-68) – 6 years, 102 days
  47. St. Simplicius (468-83) –15 years, 7 days
  48. St. Felix III (II) (483-92) – 8 years, 354 days
  49. St. Gelasius I (492-96) – 4 years, 265 days
  50. Anastasius II (496-98) – 1 year, 360 days
  51. St. Symmachus (498-514) – 15 years, 239 days; Opposed by Laurentius, antipope (498-501) – 7 years, 252 days
  52. St. Hormisdas (514-23) – 9 years, 17 days
  53. St. John I (523-26) – 2 years, 278 days
  54. St. Felix IV (III) (526-30) – 4 years, 72 days
  55. Boniface II (530-32) – 2 years, 25 days; Opposed by Dioscorus, antipope (530) – 22 days
  56. John II (533-35) – 2 years, 126 days
  57. St. Agapetus I (535-36) Also called Agapitus I – 356 days
  58. St. Silverius (536-37) – 276 days
  59. Vigilius (537-55) – 18 years, 70 days
  60. Pelagius I (556-61) – 4 years, 322 days
  61. John III (561-74) – 12 years, 361 days
  62. Benedict I (575-79) – 4 years, 58 days
  63. Pelagius II (579-90) – 10 years, 73 days
  64. St. Gregory I (the Great) (590-604) – 13 years, 191 days
  65. Sabinian (604-606) – 1 year, 162 days
  66. Boniface III (607) – 266 days
  67. St. Boniface IV (608-15) – 6 years, 235 days
  68. St. Deusdedit (Adeodatus I) (615-18) – 2 years, 360 days
  69. Boniface V (619-25) – 5 years, 306 days
  70. Honorius I (625-38) – 12 years, 350 days
  71. Severinus (640) – 66 days
  72. John IV (640-42) – 1 year, 292 days
  73. Theodore I (642-49) – 6 years, 171 days
  74. St. Martin I (649-55) – 6 years, 73 days
  75. St. Eugene I (655-57) – 2 years, 296 days
  76. St. Vitalian (657-72) – 14 years, 181 days
  77. Adeodatus (II) (672-76) – 4 years, 67 days
  78. Donus (676-78) – 1 year, 160 days
  79. St. Agatho (678-81) – 2 years, 197 days
  80. St. Leo II (682-83) – 320 days
  81. St. Benedict II (684-85) – 316 days
  82. John V (685-86) – 1 year, 10 days
  83. Conon (686-87) – 335 days
  84. St. Sergius I (687-701) – 13 years, 267 days; Opposed by Theodore and Paschal, antipopes (687)
  85. John VI (701-05) – 3 years, 73 days
  86. John VII (705-07) – 2 years, 231 days
  87. Sisinnius (708) – 20 days
  88. Constantine (708-15) – 7 years, 15 days
  89. St. Gregory II (715-31) – 15 years, 268 days
  90. St. Gregory III (731-41) – 10 years, 255 days
  91. St. Zachary (741-52) 10 years, 110 days; Stephen II followed Zachary, but because he died before being consecrated, modern lists omit him
  92. Stephen II (III) (752-57) – 5 years, 31 days
  93. St. Paul I (757-67) – 10 years, 30 days
  94. Stephen III (IV) (767-72) – 3 years, 170 days; Opposed by Constantine II (767) and Philip (768), antipopes (767)
  95. Adrian I (772-95) – 23 years, 328 days
  96. St. Leo III (795-816) – 20 years, 169 days
  97. Stephen IV (V) (816-17) – 216 days
  98. St. Paschal I (817-24) – 7 years, 17 days
  99. Eugene II (824-27) – 3 years, 111 days
  100. Valentine (827) – 40 days
  101. Gregory IV (827-44) – 16 years, 36 days
  102. Sergius II (844-47) – 3 years, 2 days; Opposed by John, antipope
  103. St. Leo IV (847-55) – 8 years, 98 days
  104. Benedict III (855-58) – 2 years, 200 days; Opposed by Anastasius, antipope (855)
  105. St. Nicholas I (the Great) (858-67) – 9 years, 203 days
  106. Adrian II (867-72) – 5 years
  107. John VIII (872-82) – 10 years, 2 days
  108. Marinus I (882-84) – 1 year, 151 days
  109. St. Adrian III (884-85) – 1 year, 121 days
  110. Stephen V (VI) (885-91) – 5 years, 355 days
  111. Formosus (891-96) – 4 years, 181 days
  112. Boniface VI (896) – 15 days
  113. Stephen VI (VII) (896-97) – 1 year, 84 days
  114. Romanus (897) – 92 days
  115. Theodore II (897) – 19 days
  116. John IX (898-900) – 1 year, 352 days
  117. Benedict IV (900-03) – 3 years, 179 days
  118. Leo V (903) – 124 days; Opposed by Christopher, antipope (903-904) – 92 days
  119. Sergius III (904-11) – 7 years, 75 days
  120. Anastasius III (911-13) – 2 years, 48 days
  121. Lando (913-14) – 213 days
  122. John X (914-28) – 14 years, 88 days
  123. Leo VI (928) – 187 days
  124. Stephen VIII (929-31) – 2 years, 10 days
  125. John XI (931-35) – 4 years, 261 days
  126. Leo VII (936-39) – 3 years, 191 days
  127. Stephen IX (939-42) – 3 years, 108 days
  128. Marinus II (942-46) – 3 years, 183 days
  129. Agapetus II (946-55) – 9 years, 182 days
  130. John XII (955-63) – 7 years, 355 days
  131. Leo VIII (963-64) – 82 days
  132. Benedict V (964) – 251 days
  133. John XIII (965-72) 6 years, 341 days
  134. Benedict VI (973-74) – 1 year, 140 days
  135. Benedict VII (974-83) – 8 years, 282 days; Benedict and John XIV were opposed by Boniface VII, antipope (974; 984-985)
  136. John XIV (983-84) – 263 days
  137. John XV (985-96) – 10 years, 225 days
  138. Gregory V (996-99) – 2 years, 291 days; Opposed by John XVI, antipope (997-998) – 306 days
  139. Sylvester II (999-1003) – 4 years, 40 days
  140. John XVII (1003) – 174 days
  141. John XVIII (1003-09) – 5 years, 205 days
  142. Sergius IV (1009-12) – 2 years, 286 days 
  143. Benedict VIII (1012-24) – 11 years, 327 days; Opposed by Gregory, antipope (1012)
  144. John XIX (1024-32)
  145. Benedict IX (1032-45) – 12 years, 71 days; He appears on this list three separate times, because he was twice deposed and restored
  146. Sylvester III (1045) – 56 days; Considered by some to be an antipope
  147. Benedict IX (1045) – 52 days
  148. Gregory VI (1045-46) – 1 year, 229 days
  149. Clement II (1046-47) – 289 days
  150. Benedict IX (1047-48) – 252 days
  151. Damasus II (1048) – 23 days
  152. St. Leo IX (1049-54) – 5 years, 66 days
  153. Victor II (1055-57) – 2 years, 106 days
  154. Stephen X (1057-58) 239 days
  155. Nicholas II (1058-61) – 2 years, 233 days; Opposed by Benedict X, antipope (1058)
  156. Alexander II (1061-73) 11 years, 203 days; Opposed by Honorius II, antipope (1061-1072) – 10 years, 185 days
  157. St. Gregory VII (1073-85) – 12 years, 33 days; Gregory and the following three popes were opposed by Guibert (“Clement III”), antipope (1080-1100) – 20 years, 75 days
  158. Blessed Victor III (1086-87) – 1 year, 115 days
  159. Blessed Urban II (1088-99) – 11 years, 139 days
  160. Paschal II (1099-1118)- 18 years, 161 days; Opposed by Theodoric (1100), Aleric (1102) and Maginulf (“Sylvester IV”, 1105-1111), antipopes (1100)
  161. Gelasius II (1118-19) – 1 year, 5 days; Opposed by Burdin (“Gregory VIII”), antipope (1118) – 3 years, 41 days
  162. Callistus II (1119-24) – 5 years, 315 days
  163. Honorius II (1124-30) – 5 years, 54 days; Opposed by Celestine II, antipope (1124)
  164. Innocent II (1130-43) – 13 years, 222 days; Opposed by Anacletus II (1130-1138) – 7 years, 345 days and Gregory Conti (“Victor IV”) (1138), – 75 days antipopes (1138)
  165. Celestine II (1143-44) – 164 days
  166. Lucius II (1144-45) – 340 days
  167. Blessed Eugene III (1145-53) – 8 years, 143 days
  168. Anastasius IV (1153-54) – 1 year, 144 days
  169. Adrian IV (1154-59) – 4 years, 271 days
  170. Alexander III (1159-81) 21 years, 357 days; Opposed by Octavius (“Victor IV”) (1159-1164) – 4 years, 226 days, Pascal III (1165-1168) 4 years, 147 days, Callistus III (1168-1177) – 9 years, 333 days and Innocent III (1178-1180) – 124 days, antipopes
  171. Lucius III (1181-85) – 4 years, 85 days
  172. Urban III (1185-87) – 1 year, 329 days
  173. Gregory VIII (1187) – 57 days
  174. Clement III (1187-91) – 3 years, 91 days
  175. Celestine III (1191-98) – 6 years, 284 days
  176. Innocent III (1198-1216) – 18 years, 190 days
  177. Honorius III (1216-27) – 10 years, 243 days
  178. Gregory IX (1227-41) – 14 years, 156 days
  179. Celestine IV (1241) – 16 days
  180. Innocent IV (1243-54) – 11 years, 165 days
  181. Alexander IV (1254-61) – 6 years, 164 days
  182. Urban IV (1261-64) – 3 years, 34 days
  183. Clement IV (1265-68) – 3 years, 298 days
  184. Blessed Gregory X (1271-76) – 153 days
  185. Blessed Innocent V (1276) – 153 days
  186. Adrian V (1276) – 38 days
  187. John XXI (1276-77) – 254 days
  188. Nicholas III (1277-80) – 2 years, 271 days
  189. Martin IV (1281-85) – 4 years, 34 days
  190. Honorius IV (1285-87) – 2 years, 1 day
  191. Nicholas IV (1288-92) – 4 years, 42 days
  192. St. Celestine V (1294) – 161 days
  193. Boniface VIII (1294-1303) – 8 years, 291 days
  194. Blessed Benedict XI (1303-04) – 259 days
  195. Clement V (1305-14) – 8 years, 319 days
  196. John XXII (1316-34) 18 years, 119 days; Opposed by Nicholas V, antipope (1328-1330) – 2 years, 74 days
  197. Benedict XII (1334-42) – 10 years, 213 days
  198. Clement VI (1342-52) – 10 years, 213 days
  199. Innocent VI (1352-62) – 9 years, 268 days
  200. Blessed Urban V (1362-70) – 8 years, 82 days
  201. Gregory XI (1370-78) – 7 years, 87 days
  202. Urban VI (1378-89) – 11 years, 190 days; Opposed by Robert of Geneva (“Clement VII”), antipope (1378-1394) – 15 years, 353 days
  203. Boniface IX (1389-1404) – 14 years, 334 days; Opposed by Robert of Geneva (“Clement VII”) (1378-1394), Pedro de Luna (“Benedict XIII”) (1394-1417) and Baldassare Cossa (“John XXIII”) (1400-1415), antipopes
  204. Innocent VII (1404-06) – 2 years, 20 days; Opposed by Pedro de Luna (“Benedict XIII”) (1394-1417) and Baldassare Cossa (“John XXIII”) (1400-1415), antipopes
  205. Gregory XII (1406-15) – 8 years, 216 days; Opposed by Pedro de Luna (“Benedict XIII”) (1394-1417), Baldassare Cossa (“John XXIII”) (1400-1415), and Pietro Philarghi (“Alexander V”) (1409-1410), antipopes
  206. Martin V (1417-31) – 13 years, 101 days
  207. Eugene IV (1431-47) – 15 years, 357 days; Opposed by Amadeus of Savoy (“Felix V”), antipope (1439-1449)
  208. Nicholas V (1447-55) – 8 years, 18 days
  209. Callistus III (1455-58) – 3 years, 120 days
  210. Pius II (1458-64) – 5 years, 362 days
  211. Paul II (1464-71) – 6 years, 330 days
  212. Sixtus IV (1471-84) – 13 years, 3 days
  213. Innocent VIII (1484-92) – 7 years, 331 days
  214. Alexander VI (1492-1503) – 11 years, 7 days
  215. Pius III (1503) – 26 days
  216. Julius II (1503-13) – 9 years, 113 days
  217. Leo X (1513-21) – 8 years, 267 days
  218. Adrian VI (1522-23) – 1 year, 248 days
  219. Clement VII (1523-34) – 10 years, 303 days
  220. Paul III (1534-49) – 15 years, 28 days
  221. Julius III (1550-55) – 5 years, 50 days
  222. Marcellus II (1555) – 22 days
  223. Paul IV (1555-59) – 4 years, 87 days
  224. Pius IV (1559-65) – 5 years, 348 days
  225. St. Pius V (1566-72) – 6 years, 115 days
  226. Gregory XIII (1572-85) – 12 years, 322 days
  227. Sixtus V (1585-90) – 5 years, 125 days
  228. Urban VII (1590) – 12 days
  229. Gregory XIV (1590-91) – 315 days
  230. Innocent IX (1591) – 62 days
  231. Clement VIII (1592-1605) – 13 years, 32 days
  232. Leo XI (1605) – 26 days
  233. Paul V (1605-21) – 15 years, 257 days
  234. Gregory XV (1621-23) – 2 years, 149 days
  235. Urban VIII (1623-44) – 20 years, 358 days
  236. Innocent X (1644-55) – 10 years, 114 days
  237. Alexander VII (1655-67) – 12 years, 45 days
  238. Clement IX (1667-69) – 2 years, 172 days
  239. Clement X (1670-76) – 6 years, 84 days
  240. Blessed Innocent XI (1676-89) – 12 years, 325 days
  241. Alexander VIII (1689-91) – 1 year, 118 days
  242. Innocent XII (1691-1700) – 9 years, 77 days
  243. Clement XI (1700-21) – 20 years, 116 days
  244. Innocent XIII (1721-24) – 2 years, 304 days
  245. Benedict XIII (1724-30) – 5 years, 268 days
  246. Clement XII (1730-40) – 9 years, 209 days
  247. Benedict XIV (1740-58) – 17 years, 259 days
  248. Clement XIII (1758-69) – 10 years, 211 days
  249. Clement XIV (1769-74) – 5 years, 126 days
  250. Pius VI (1775-99) – 24 years, 195 days
  251. Pius VII (1800-23) – 23 years, 159 days
  252. Leo XII (1823-29) – 5 years, 135 days
  253. Pius VIII (1829-30) – 1 year, 244 days
  254. Gregory XVI (1831-46) – 15 years, 119 days
  255. Blessed Pius IX (1846-78) – 31 years, 236 days
  256. Leo XIII (1878-1903) – 25 years, 150 days
  257. St. Pius X (1903-14) – 11 years, 16 days
  258. Benedict XV (1914-22) 7 years, 141 days
  259. Pius XI (1922-39) – 17 years, 4 days
  260. Pius XII (1939-58) – 19 years, 221 days
  261. St. John XXIII (1958-63) – 4 years, 218 days
  262. St. Paul VI (1963-78) – 15 years, 46 days
  263. John Paul I (1978) – 33 days
  264. St. John Paul II (1978-2005) – 26 years, 168 days
  265. Benedict XVI (2005-2013) – 7 years, 315 days
  266. Francis (2013-2025) – 12 years
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