From Khatami’s surprise greeting to how to pick a new Pope

Then the voting process resumes. A conclave will last until enough of the cardinal electors agree on a choice for the next pope. How long has it taken to choose a new pope in the past? The longest conclave in history was the one that brought Pope Gregory X to the papacy in 1281. It lasted almost three years from the time the cardinals first began their voting. Recent conclaves, however, have lasted just days.

Pope John Paul II needed eight ballots, over two days, to become the pontiff in 1978. His successor, Benedict XVI, was chosen on the fourth ballot, after two days, in 2005. Francis, in 2013, needed a mere five ballots, with the voting taking just 24 hours. What will happen once the conclave chooses the next pope? When enough cardinals agree on a candidate and the vote reaches the two-thirds-plus-one threshold, the chosen man is asked if he accepts the role. He will acknowledge by simply saying the word for “I accept” in Latin: “Accepto.”

April 26, 2025 | 6:02 am