Conclave 2025: Who was actually the quickest pope to be elected?
Discover the fastest papal election in history and learn which pope was elected in the shortest time.
The conclave 2025 is set to begin very soon, and with it many questions about the voting process of the election of a new pope. However, as one of the most important events among the Roman Catholic Church, there has always been an air of mystery and secrecy around it.
While some of the conclaves have lasted for several days before even having a clear answer, come of these processes have been incredibly swift. Let's see which popes were elected the quickest.
Who was the fastest pope to be elected?
That's actually a tricky question. A few centuries ago, before 1274, the pope used to be elected on the same day his predecessor died. However, the Catholic Church decided to wait at least 10 days before electing a new leader. This period was later extended to 15 day to give time to all cardinals to arrive to Rome.
The white smoke announces the end of the conclave and the election of a new pope, "Habemus Papam". Photo: Clarín
Nonetheless, to find out who was actually the fastest pope to be elected, it is important to consider these popes: Pope Pius III, Julius II, and Pius XII.
Pope Pius III
Following the death of the Borgia pope in 1503, which later caused the creation of the Protestant Church, Pope Pius III was elected in a conclave which lasted only 10 hours, with many classifying it as a snap decision.
However, the conclave which elected him had to be delayed in order to ensure the election would occur without the pressure of Cesare Borgia, for almost a month until September 16. Despite this, after a very short pontificate of 26 days he died on 18 October 1503, over a septic ulcer on his leg.
Pope Julius II
Named successor of Pope Pius III, another pope who was elected in a short conclave, he would be an actual answer to the question of "Who was the pope elected the fastest?", as the conclave which elected Pope Julius II, according to Vatican News, only lasted a few hours.
Born as Giuliano della Rovere in 5 December 1443, Rovere was a powerful cardinal, and he was among the favorite candidates for a new pope. However, as we do not know exactly how much did his conclave lasted, he is on the list, but neither Pius III nor Julius II is at the top.
Pope Pius XII
While Pius XII's conclave was not the shortest in the term of it did not take many rounds, the conclave which elected him was actually the shortest in the 20th century.
Cardinal Angelo Roncalli, later Pope Pius XII, was elected on the third ballot. In more recent times, we can compare this record to Pope Francis, who was elected on the fifth ballot in 2013; and, Benedict XVI, who was elected in the fourth in 2005.
