Popes traditionally serve for life, meaning they remain in office until they die. However, this is not an absolute rule, as popes can and have resigned, with the most recent example being Pope Benedict XVI, who resigned in 2013 due to declining health
. The average length of a papal tenure is about 7 to 12 years, depending on the period considered. Since 1900, the average pontificate has been around 12 years, with many popes serving longer than 10 years
. The longest-reigning pope is traditionally considered to be Saint Peter, the first pope, who served for about 34 years. Among more verifiable records, Pope Pius IX served for over 31 years (1846–1878), and Pope John Paul II served for over 26 years (1978–2005)
. The shortest papacy was that of Urban VII, who served only 12 days before dying of malaria in 1590
. In summary:
- Popes usually serve for life but can resign.
- Average tenure is roughly 7 to 12 years.
- Longest reign: Saint Peter (~34 years).
- Shortest reign: Urban VII (12 days).
- Recent popes have tended to serve about a decade or more
