The papal conclave to elect Pope Francis in 2013 lasted two days, requiring five rounds of voting-one on the first day and four on the second
. This is consistent with recent conclaves, which have typically lasted two to three days; for example, Pope Benedict XVI was elected in 2005 after two days, and Pope John Paul II in 1978 over two days as well
. The 2025 conclave to choose Pope Francis's successor began on May 7, 16 days after his death, with 133 cardinals voting in the Sistine Chapel
. The process involves multiple rounds of voting each day-two rounds on the first day, and from the second day onward, two rounds each morning and afternoon until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority plus one vote
. If no pope is elected after three days, the conclave pauses for a day for prayer and discussion before resuming
. Historically, conclaves have varied greatly in length, from a few hours to nearly three years-the longest being the election following Pope Clement IV’s death in 1268, which lasted about 1,000 days
. However, modern conclaves are much shorter, typically lasting only a few days
. In summary:
- Pope Francis’s conclave in 2013 lasted 2 days.
- Recent conclaves generally last 2 to 3 days.
- The 2025 conclave started on May 7, with voting rounds continuing until a two-thirds majority is reached.
- There is no fixed time limit; the conclave continues until a pope is elected.
- Historically, conclues have ranged from hours to years, but recent ones are short.
Thus, the conclave to elect Pope Francis took two days, and the 2025 conclave was expected to last a similar short duration unless prolonged voting is needed
