The youngest pope ever elected was Pope Benedict IX. He became pope around the year 1032 at an exceptionally young age, with estimates ranging from about 11 or 12 years old to around 20 years old. While some historical sources, such as the monk Rodulfus Glaber, claim he was as young as 11 or 12, most modern historians consider him to have been about 20 at his election. Regardless, he holds the record as the youngest pope in history
. Benedict IX's papacy was highly unusual and controversial. He was pope three separate times between 1032 and 1048, a unique occurrence in papal history. His election was reportedly secured through bribery by his father, and his reign was marked by scandal, political turmoil, and even the selling of the papacy
. In summary, Pope Benedict IX is recognized as the youngest pope ever elected, with his age at election debated but possibly as young as 11 or 12, though more commonly cited as around 20 years old.
