Full Timeline of All Popes in History (33 AD – 2026)


Full Timeline of All Popes in History (to 2026) Infographic 1

Full Timeline of All Popes in History (to 2026) Infographic 2

Full Timeline of All Popes in History (to 2026) Infographic 3

Full Timeline of All Popes in History (to 2026) Infographic 4

📜 Full Timeline of All Popes in History (to 2026)

Mini Bio, Duration, Fun Facts & Trivia

For over two millennia, the papacy has been a central institution of Christianity and global history. Traditionally traced to Saint Peter the Apostle, the office of the pope — Bishop of Rome and leader of the Catholic Church — evolved through crises, reforms, schisms, renaissances, and modern challenges. More than 260 men have served as pope (not counting antipopes) from roughly 33 AD to 2026.

🕊️ Early Papacy (33–590)

St. Peter (c. 33–67)

  • Mini Bio: One of Jesus’ original disciples; considered the first bishop of Rome.

  • Duration: c. 34 years

  • Fun Fact: Regarded as the foundation of papal authority; “Papa” literally means “father.”

  • Trivia: According to tradition, Peter was martyred by crucifixion in Rome.

Early Successors (Linus, Anacletus, Clement I)

  • The first successors of Peter established early doctrines and combated heresies in a period of Christian persecution.

  • Their reigns marked the expansion of Christian communities throughout the Roman Empire.

🛡️ Medieval Papacy (590–1303)

St. Gregory I (590–604)

  • Mini Bio: Known as Gregory the Great, he reformed liturgy and centralized papal authority.

  • Duration: 14 years

  • Fun Fact: He sent missionaries to convert the Anglo-Saxons.

  • Trivia: One of only three popes historically titled “the Great.”

Notable Developments

  • Medieval popes strengthened the church's political power.

  • Papal elections grew more formal, eventually evolving into the conclave system.

⚔️ Renaissance & Reformation (1303–1565)

Pope Sixtus IV (1471–1484)

  • Mini Bio: Born Francesco della Rovere, he was a key patron of the Renaissance arts.

  • Duration: 13 years

  • Fun Fact: Commissioned the Sistine Chapel and founded the Vatican Library.

  • Trivia: His policies included controversial acts of nepotism and involvement in Italian politics.

Pope Marcellus II (1555)

  • Mini Bio: Served the papacy for only 22 days, one of the shortest reigns.

  • Fun Fact: He’s the most recent pope to retain his birth name as his papal name.

  • Trivia: His brief pontificate occurred during a time of intense ecclesiastical reform.

🌍 Early Modern & Counter-Reformation (1565–1774)

Events & Trends

  • Popes like Pius V and Gregory XIII pushed for Catholic renewal and codified reforms after the Protestant Reformation.

  • The Council of Trent’s decrees shaped Catholic practice for centuries.

🏛️ Modern Papacy (1775–1903)

Pius IX (1846–1878)

  • Mini Bio: The longest-reigning pope until recent times, overseeing the First Vatican Council and defining the doctrine of papal infallibility.

  • Duration: 31+ years

  • Fun Fact: Lost the Papal States as Italy unified.

  • Trivia: His image remains controversial due to both doctrinal influence and political setbacks.

🕊️ 20th–21st Century Papacy (1903–2026)

The modern era of the papacy blends theological leadership with global diplomacy and social influence.

St. Pius X (1903–1914)

  • Mini Bio: Advocate of liturgical reform and stronger access to communion.

  • Duration: 11 years

  • Fun Fact: He encouraged frequent reception of the Eucharist.

Benedict XV (1914–1922)

  • Led the Church through World War I, striving for peace and relief efforts.

Pius XI (1922–1939)

  • Oversaw significant concordats and expanded Catholic education.

Pius XII (1939–1958)

  • Pope during World War II, with a complex legacy regarding the Holocaust.

John XXIII (1958–1963)

  • Fun Fact: Convoked the Second Vatican Council, a transformative event.

  • Promoted engagement with the modern world.

Paul VI (1963–1978)

  • Continued Vatican II reforms and initiated ecumenical dialogues.

🗓️ 1978: The Year of Three Popes

John Paul I (26 Aug – 28 Sep 1978)

  • Mini Bio: Albino Luciani, served only 33 days — one of history’s shortest papacies.

  • Fun Fact: First 20th-century born pope.

  • Trivia: His unexpected death sparked worldwide mourning and speculation.

John Paul II (1978–2005)

  • Mini Bio: First non-Italian pope in over 400 years (from Poland).

  • Duration: 27+ years

  • Fun Fact: Traveled more than any previous pope, influencing global politics and the fall of communism.

Benedict XVI (2005–2013)

  • Mini Bio: Scholar pope known for theological writing.

  • Fun Fact: First pope to resign in modern times (since Gregory XII in 1415).

Francis (2013–2025)

  • Mini Bio: First Latin American pope, known for humility and reformist tone.

  • Duration: ~12 years (died April 21, 2025).

  • Fun Facts:

    • First Jesuit pope

    • First from the Southern Hemisphere

    • Advocated dialogue on climate, poverty, and social justice

👑 Pope Leo XIV (2025–Present)

  • Mini Bio: Elected May 7, 2025, as the first American-born pope.

  • Represents the expanding global diversity of Catholic leadership.

👑 Papal Milestones & Records

🕐 Longest Reign

  • Pius IX holds the modern record for longest papacy (31+ years).

🕐 Shortest Reigns

  • Pope John Paul I: just 33 days

  • Pope Marcellus II: 22 days

🌍 Firsts in Papal History

  • First non-Italian pope: John Paul II

  • First non-European pope: Francis

  • First American pope: Leo XIV

📜 Did You Know?

  • The papacy dates back nearly 2,000 years, with a traditionally accepted start under St. Peter.

  • Over 260 men have served as pope, and around 83 have been declared saints.

  • The papal election known as the conclave was formalized after a famously protracted election in Viterbo, Italy, which lasted over 1,000 days in the 13th century.

  • The practice of choosing a papal name began in the 6th century when Pope John II changed his birth name from “Mercurius” to avoid pagan associations.

  • Despite numerous antipopes (rival claimants), official lists recognize popes by successive legitimate election and consecration.

📌 Legacy of the Papacy

The papacy has profoundly influenced:

  • Christian doctrine and theology

  • European and world politics

  • Art, culture, and law

  • Interfaith relations and humanitarian causes

From martyrdom to modern diplomacy, the lineage of popes reflects both the evolution of the Church and its interplay with global history.

🔍 Keywords

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Complete List of All Popes (33 AD – 2026)

  1. Peter (33–67)

  2. Linus (67–76)

  3. Anacletus (76–88)

  4. Clement I (88–97)

  5. Evaristus (97–105)

  6. Alexander I (105–115)

  7. Sixtus I (115–125)

  8. Telesphorus (125–136)

  9. Hyginus (136–140)

  10. Pius I (140–155)

  11. Anicetus (155–166)

  12. Soter (166–175)

  13. Eleutherius (175–189)

  14. Victor I (189–199)

  15. Zephyrinus (199–217)

  16. Callistus I (217–222)

  17. Urban I (222–230)

  18. Pontian (230–235)

  19. Anterus (235–236)

  20. Fabian (236–250)

  21. Cornelius (251–253)

  22. Lucius I (253–254)

  23. Stephen I (254–257)

  24. Sixtus II (257–258)

  25. Dionysius (259–268)

  26. Felix I (269–274)

  27. Eutychian (275–283)

  28. Caius (283–296)

  29. Marcellinus (296–304)

  30. Marcellus I (308–309)

  31. Eusebius (309–310)

  32. Miltiades (311–314)

  33. Sylvester I (314–335)

  34. Mark (336)

  35. Julius I (337–352)

  36. Liberius (352–366)

  37. Damasus I (366–384)

  38. Siricius (384–399)

  39. Anastasius I (399–401)

  40. Innocent I (401–417)

  41. Zosimus (417–418)

  42. Boniface I (418–422)

  43. Celestine I (422–432)

  44. Sixtus III (432–440)

  45. Leo I (440–461)

  46. Hilarius (461–468)

  47. Simplicius (468–483)

  48. Felix III (483–492)

  49. Gelasius I (492–496)

  50. Anastasius II (496–498)

  51. Symmachus (498–514)

  52. Hormisdas (514–523)

  53. John I (523–526)

  54. Felix IV (526–530)

  55. Boniface II (530–532)

  56. John II (533–535)

  57. Agapetus I (535–536)

  58. Silverius (536–537)

  59. Vigilius (537–555)

  60. Pelagius I (556–561)

  61. John III (561–574)

  62. Benedict I (575–579)

  63. Pelagius II (579–590)

  64. Gregory I (590–604)

  65. Sabinian (604–606)

  66. Boniface III (607)

  67. Boniface IV (608–615)

  68. Adeodatus I (615–618)

  69. Boniface V (619–625)

  70. Honorius I (625–638)

  71. Severinus (640)

  72. John IV (640–642)

  73. Theodore I (642–649)

  74. Martin I (649–655)

  75. Eugene I (655–657)

  76. Vitalian (657–672)

  77. Adeodatus II (672–676)

  78. Donus (676–678)

  79. Agatho (678–681)

  80. Leo II (682–683)

  81. Benedict II (684–685)

  82. John V (685–686)

  83. Conon (686–687)

  84. Sergius I (687–701)

  85. John VI (701–705)

  86. John VII (705–707)

  87. Sisinnius (708)

  88. Constantine (708–715)

  89. Gregory II (715–731)

  90. Gregory III (731–741)

  91. Zachary (741–752)

  92. Stephen II (752–757)

  93. Paul I (757–767)

  94. Stephen III (768–772)

  95. Adrian I (772–795)

  96. Leo III (795–816)

  97. Stephen IV (816–817)

  98. Paschal I (817–824)

  99. Eugene II (824–827)

  100. Valentine (827)

  101. Gregory IV (827–844)

  102. Sergius II (844–847)

  103. Leo IV (847–855)

  104. Benedict III (855–858)

  105. Nicholas I (858–867)

  106. Adrian II (867–872)

  107. John VIII (872–882)

  108. Marinus I (882–884)

  109. Adrian III (884–885)

  110. Stephen V (885–891)

  111. Formosus (891–896)

  112. Boniface VI (896)

  113. Stephen VI (896–897)

  114. Romanus (897)

  115. Theodore II (897)

  116. John IX (898–900)

  117. Benedict IV (900–903)

  118. Leo V (903)

  119. Christopher (903–904)

  120. Sergius III (904–911)

  121. Anastasius III (911–913)

  122. Lando (913–914)

  123. John X (914–928)

  124. Leo VI (928)

  125. Stephen VII (928–931)

  126. John XI (931–935)

  127. Leo VII (936–939)

  128. Stephen VIII (939–942)

  129. Marinus II (942–946)

  130. Agapetus II (946–955)

  131. John XII (955–964)

  132. Benedict V (964)

  133. John XIII (965–972)

  134. Benedict VI (973–974)

  135. Benedict VII (974–983)

  136. John XIV (983–984)

  137. John XV (985–996)

  138. Gregory V (996–999)

  139. Sylvester II (999–1003)

  140. John XVII (1003)

  141. John XVIII (1003–1009)

  142. Sergius IV (1009–1012)

  143. Benedict VIII (1012–1024)

  144. John XIX (1024–1032)

  145. Benedict IX (1032–1044)

  146. Sylvester III (1045)

  147. Benedict IX (1045)

  148. Gregory VI (1045–1046)

  149. Clement II (1046–1047)

  150. Benedict IX (1047–1048)

  151. Damasus II (1048)

  152. Leo IX (1049–1054)

  153. Victor II (1055–1057)

  154. Stephen IX (1057–1058)

  155. Nicholas II (1058–1061)

  156. Alexander II (1061–1073)

  157. Gregory VII (1073–1085)

  158. Victor III (1086–1087)

  159. Urban II (1088–1099)

  160. Paschal II (1099–1118)

  161. Gelasius II (1118–1119)

  162. Callistus II (1119–1124)

  163. Honorius II (1124–1130)

  164. Innocent II (1130–1143)

  165. Celestine II (1143–1144)

  166. Lucius II (1144–1145)

  167. Eugene III (1145–1153)

  168. Anastasius IV (1153–1154)

  169. Adrian IV (1154–1159)

  170. Alexander III (1159–1181)

  171. Lucius III (1181–1185)

  172. Urban III (1185–1187)

  173. Gregory VIII (1187)

  174. Clement III (1187–1191)

  175. Celestine III (1191–1198)

  176. Innocent III (1198–1216)

  177. Honorius III (1216–1227)

  178. Gregory IX (1227–1241)

  179. Celestine IV (1241)

  180. Innocent IV (1243–1254)

  181. Alexander IV (1254–1261)

  182. Urban IV (1261–1264)

  183. Clement IV (1265–1268)

  184. Gregory X (1271–1276)

  185. Innocent V (1276)

  186. Adrian V (1276)

  187. John XXI (1276–1277)

  188. Nicholas III (1277–1280)

  189. Martin IV (1281–1285)

  190. Honorius IV (1285–1287)

  191. Nicholas IV (1288–1292)

  192. Celestine V (1294)

  193. Boniface VIII (1294–1303)

  194. Benedict XI (1303–1304)

  195. Clement V (1305–1314)

  196. John XXII (1316–1334)

  197. Benedict XII (1334–1342)

  198. Clement VI (1342–1352)

  199. Innocent VI (1352–1362)

  200. Urban V (1362–1370)

  201. Gregory XI (1370–1378)

  202. Urban VI (1378–1389)

  203. Boniface IX (1389–1404)

  204. Innocent VII (1404–1406)

  205. Gregory XII (1406–1415)

  206. Martin V (1417–1431)

  207. Eugene IV (1431–1447)

  208. Nicholas V (1447–1455)

  209. Callistus III (1455–1458)

  210. Pius II (1458–1464)

  211. Paul II (1464–1471)

  212. Sixtus IV (1471–1484)

  213. Innocent VIII (1484–1492)

  214. Alexander VI (1492–1503)

  215. Pius III (1503)

  216. Julius II (1503–1513)

  217. Leo X (1513–1521)

  218. Adrian VI (1522–1523)

  219. Clement VII (1523–1534)

  220. Paul III (1534–1549)

  221. Julius III (1550–1555)

  222. Marcellus II (1555)

  223. Paul IV (1555–1559)

  224. Pius IV (1559–1565)

  225. Pius V (1566–1572)

  226. Gregory XIII (1572–1585)

  227. Sixtus V (1585–1590)

  228. Urban VII (1590)

  229. Gregory XIV (1590–1591)

  230. Innocent IX (1591)

  231. Clement VIII (1592–1605)

  232. Leo XI (1605)

  233. Paul V (1605–1621)

  234. Gregory XV (1621–1623)

  235. Urban VIII (1623–1644)

  236. Innocent X (1644–1655)

  237. Alexander VII (1655–1667)

  238. Clement IX (1667–1669)

  239. Clement X (1670–1676)

  240. Innocent XI (1676–1689)

  241. Alexander VIII (1689–1691)

  242. Innocent XII (1691–1700)

  243. Clement XI (1700–1721)

  244. Innocent XIII (1721–1724)

  245. Benedict XIII (1724–1730)

  246. Clement XII (1730–1740)

  247. Benedict XIV (1740–1758)

  248. Clement XIII (1758–1769)

  249. Clement XIV (1769–1774)

  250. Pius VI (1775–1799)

  251. Pius VII (1800–1823)

  252. Leo XII (1823–1829)

  253. Pius VIII (1829–1830)

  254. Gregory XVI (1831–1846)

  255. Pius IX (1846–1878)

  256. Leo XIII (1878–1903)

  257. Pius X (1903–1914)

  258. Benedict XV (1914–1922)

  259. Pius XI (1922–1939)

  260. Pius XII (1939–1958)

  261. John XXIII (1958–1963)

  262. Paul VI (1963–1978)

  263. John Paul I (1978)

  264. John Paul II (1978–2005)

  265. Benedict XVI (2005–2013)

  266. Francis (2013–2025)

  267. Leo XIV (2025–present)

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