Pope Francis & The Papacy: A Historical Overview - Latest Updates

Nicolas

01 May, 2025

Could a series of ancient prophecies have foretold the papacy of Pope Francis? The death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, marked the end of an era, but it also reignited interest in a centuries-old prophecy that seemingly predicted his time at the helm of the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, made history as the first Latin American pontiff, the first from the Americas, and the first from the Jesuit order. His papacy, which began in 2013, was characterized by significant reforms and a renewed focus on social justice and environmental issues, including the papal encyclical Laudato Si' (2015), addressing the climate crisis. His efforts to foster unity across religious lines and his humble approach to the papacy set him apart, drawing both admiration and controversy. The Vatican announced his passing on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, after a pontificate of just over twelve years.

Before the conclave can be called to elect his successor, the funeral rites for Pope Francis will proceed, a period of mourning and prayer lasting approximately nine days. According to Catholic tradition, his burial will take place within four to six days after his death.

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Attribute	Details
Full Name	Jorge Mario Bergoglio
Born	December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Died	April 21, 2025, Vatican City
Papal Name	Francis
Elected Pope	March 13, 2013
Age at Election	76
Previous Roles	Archbishop of Buenos Aires (1998-2013), Cardinal (2001)
Order	Jesuit
Key Initiatives	Laudato Si' (2015) encyclical on climate change, emphasis on social justice, outreach to marginalized communities.
Legacy	First pope from the Americas, first Jesuit pope, reformer, focus on mercy and compassion.
Reference	Vatican Official Biography

Pope Francis death has naturally led to speculation about his successor. The process of electing a new pope, known as a conclave, will begin once the funeral rites are complete. The College of Cardinals, composed of cardinals from around the world, will gather in the Vatican to vote for the next leader of the Catholic Church. The leading contenders are not publicly announced, as the election process is private, but various cardinals are frequently discussed in the press as potential candidates, each with their own strengths, weaknesses, and priorities.

Before ascending to the papacy, Cardinal Bergoglio was a notable figure in the Catholic Church in Argentina. Prior to becoming Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger issued official critiques of liberation theology in 1984 and 1986. Cardinal Bergoglio served as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires from 1998 to 2013 and was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II.

The papacy of Francis was preceded by that of Pope Benedict XVI, who resigned in February 2013, a historic event as he was the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years, since Gregory XII in 1415, and the oldest pope to take office since Clement XII in 1730. Benedict's resignation, the reasons for which he stated as a decline in his physical and mental strength, created a period of uncertainty before the election of Francis. Before becoming pope, Benedict XVI, born Joseph Ratzinger in Germany, was a significant theological figure, known for his conservative views.

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The passing of a pope is a solemn moment for the Catholic Church, but it also often triggers renewed interest in the history of the papacy. Considering the vast number of figures who have held the position throughout history, the role of the papacy becomes a subject of endless fascination. The 266th pope, Pope Francis, is one of many Vatican leaders.

The mysterious "Prophecy of St. Malachy" is a collection of 112 short Latin mottoes, or epithets, that are purported to describe each of the popes, beginning with Celestine II (elected in 1143) and concluding with a final pope. Malachy's prophecies suggested that the final pope would preside over a period of great suffering and turmoil, culminating in the destruction of the city of Rome. The accuracy of these prophecies, however, is a subject of scholarly debate, with some believing them to be a later fabrication.

The list of popes, from the earliest to the most recent, provides a window into the evolution of the Church over centuries. It is interesting to note that a number of popes are now considered legitimate by the Vatican after previously being regarded as illegitimate due to how they obtained the papacy, or how they resigned.

Here is a list of popes from 32 AD:

indicates the pope was not already a bishop at the time of his election, so the date is of his consecration. # indicates the pope resigned. This table was last updated on 23 April 2025.

Here is a list of popes from 32 AD

St. Peter (c. 32-64/68)
St. Linus (c. 64/68-79)
St. Anacletus (c. 79-92)
St. Clement I (c. 92-99)
St. Evaristus (c. 99-107)
St. Alexander I (c. 107-116)
St. Sixtus I (c. 116-125)
St. Telesphorus (c. 125-136)
St. Hyginus (c. 136-140)
St. Pius I (c. 140-155)
St. Anicetus (c. 155-166)
St. Soter (c. 166-175)
St. Eleuterus (c. 175-189)
St. Victor I (c. 189-199)
St. Zephyrinus (c. 199-217)
St. Callixtus I (217-222)
St. Urban I (222-230)
St. Pontian (230-235)
St. Anterus (235-236)
St. Fabian (236-250)
St. Cornelius (251-253)
St. Lucius I (253-254)
St. Stephen I (254-257)
St. Sixtus II (257-258)
St. Dionysius (260-268)
St. Felix I (269-274)
St. Eutychian (275-283)
St. Caius (283-296)
St. Marcellinus (296-304)
St. Marcellus I (308-309)
St. Eusebius (309/310)
St. Miltiades (311-314)
St. Sylvester I (314-335)
St. Mark (336)
St. Julius I (337-352)
Liberius (352-366)
St. Damasus I (366-384)
St. Siricius (384-399)
St. Anastasius I (399-401)
St. Innocent I (401-417)
St. Zosimus (417-418)
St. Boniface I (418-422)
St. Celestine I (422-432)
St. Sixtus III (432-440)
St. Leo I (440-461)
St. Hilary (461-468)
St. Simplicius (468-483)
St. Felix III (II) (483-492)
St. Gelasius I (492-496)
St. Anastasius II (496-498)
St. Symmachus (498-514)
St. Hormisdas (514-523)
St. John I (523-526)
St. Felix IV (III) (526-530)
Boniface II (530-532)
John II (533-535)
St. Agapetus I (535-536)
St. Silverius (536-537)
Vigilius (537-555)
Pelagius I (556-561)
John III (561-574)
Benedict I (575-579)
Pelagius II (579-590)
St. Gregory I (590-604)
Sabinian (604-606)
Boniface III (607)
St. Boniface IV (608-615)
St. Deusdedit (Adeodatus I) (615-618)
Boniface V (619-625)
Honorius I (625-638)
Severinus (640)
John IV (640-642)
Theodore I (642-649)
St. Martin I (649-655)
St. Eugene I (654-657)
St. Vitalian (657-672)
Adeodatus II (672-676)
Donus (676-678)
St. Agatho (678-681)
St. Leo II (682-683)
St. Benedict II (684-685)
John V (685-686)
Conon (686-687)
St. Sergius I (687-701)
John VI (701-705)
John VII (705-707)
Sisinnius (708)
Constantine (708-715)
St. Gregory II (715-731)
St. Gregory III (731-741)
St. Zacharias (741-752)
Stephen II (752)
Stephen III (II) (752-757)
St. Paul I (757-767)
Stephen IV (III) (767-772)
Adrian I (772-795)
St. Leo III (795-816)
Stephen V (IV) (816-817)
St. Paschal I (817-824)
Eugene II (824-827)
Valentine (827)
Gregory IV (827-844)
John (844)
St. Leo IV (847-855)
Benedict III (855-858)
St. Nicholas I (858-867)
Adrian II (867-872)
John VIII (872-882)
Marinus I (882-884)
St. Adrian III (884-885)
Stephen VI (V) (885-891)
Formosus (891-896)
Boniface VI (April, 896): [11] reigned for 13 calendar days, [a] died before consecration.
Stephen VII (VI) (896-897)
Romanus (897)
Theodore II (December, 897): [13] reigned for 17 calendar days, died before consecration.
John IX (898-900)
Benedict IV (900-903)
Leo V (903)
Christopher (903-904)
Sergius III (904-911)
Anastasius III (911-913)
Lando (913)
John X (914-928)
Leo VI (928)
Stephen VII (VI) (928-931)
John XI (931-935)
Leo VII (936-939)
Stephen VIII (VII) (939-942)
Marinus II (942-946)
Agapetus II (946-955)
John XII (955-964)
Leo VIII (963-965)
Benedict V (964)
John XIII (965-972)
Benedict VI (973-974)
Boniface VII (974, 984-985)
Benedict VII (974-983)
John XIV (983-984)
John XV (985-996)
Gregory V (996-999)
Sylvester II (999-1003)
John XVII (1003)
John XVIII (1003-1009)
Sergius IV (1009-1012)
Benedict VIII (1012-1024)
John XIX (1024-1032)
Benedict IX (1032-1044, 1045, 1047-1048)
Sylvester III (1045)
Gregory VI (1045-1046)
Clement II (1046-1047)
Damasus II (1048)
St. Leo IX (1049-1054)
Victor II (1055-1057)
Stephen IX (X) (1057-1058)
Nicholas II (1059-1061)
Alexander II (1061-1073)
St. Gregory VII (1073-1085)
Blessed Victor III (1086-1087)
Blessed Urban II (1088-1099)
Paschal II (1099-1118)
Gelasius II (1118-1119)
Callixtus II (1119-1124)
Honorius II (1124-1130)
Innocent II (1130-1143)
Celestine II (1143-1144)
Lucius II (1144-1145)
Blessed Eugene III (1145-1153)
Anastasius IV (1153-1154)
Adrian IV (1154-1159)
Alexander III (1159-1181)
Lucius III (1181-1185)
Urban III (1185-1187)
Gregory VIII (1187)
Clement III (1187-1191)
Celestine III (1191-1198)
Innocent III (1198-1216)
Honorius III (1216-1227)
Gregory IX (1227-1241)
Celestine IV (1241)
Innocent IV (1243-1254)
Alexander IV (1254-1261)
Urban IV (1261-1264)
Clement IV (1265-1268)
Blessed Gregory X (1271-1276)
Innocent V (1276)
Adrian V (1276)
John XXI (1276-1277)
Nicholas III (1277-1280)
Martin IV (1281-1285)
Honorius IV (1285-1287)
Nicholas IV (1288-1292)
St. Celestine V (1294) #
Boniface VIII (1294-1303)
Blessed Benedict XI (1303-1304)
Clement V (1305-1314)
John XXII (1316-1334)
Benedict XII (1334-1342)
Clement VI (1342-1352)
Innocent VI (1352-1362)
Blessed Urban V (1362-1370)
Gregory XI (1370-1378)
Urban VI (1378-1389)
Boniface IX (1389-1404)
Innocent VII (1404-1406)
Gregory XII (1406-1415) #
Martin V (1417-1431)
Eugene IV (1431-1447)
Nicholas V (1447-1455)
Callixtus III (1455-1458)
Pius II (1458-1464)
Paul II (1464-1471)
Sixtus IV (1471-1484)
Innocent VIII (1484-1492)
Alexander VI (1492-1503)
Pius III (1503)
Julius II (1503-1513)
Leo X (1513-1521)
Adrian VI (1522-1523)
Clement VII (1523-1534)
Paul III (1534-1549)
Julius III (1550-1555)
Marcellus II (1555)
Paul IV (1555-1559)
Pius IV (1559-1565)
St. Pius V (1566-1572)
Gregory XIII (1572-1585)
Sixtus V (1585-1590)
Urban VII (1590)
Gregory XIV (1590-1591)
Innocent IX (1591)
Clement VIII (1592-1605)
Leo XI (1605)
Paul V (1605-1621)
Gregory XV (1621-1623)
Urban VIII (1623-1644)
Innocent X (1644-1655)
Alexander VII (1655-1667)
Clement IX (1667-1669)
Clement X (1670-1676)
Blessed Innocent XI (1676-1689)
Alexander VIII (1689-1691)
Innocent XII (1691-1700)
Clement XI (1700-1721)
Innocent XIII (1721-1724)
Benedict XIII (1724-1730)
Clement XII (1730-1740)
Benedict XIV (1740-1758)
Clement XIII (1758-1769)
Clement XIV (1769-1774)
Pius VI (1775-1799)
Pius VII (1800-1823)
Leo XII (1823-1829)
Pius VIII (1829-1830)
Gregory XVI (1831-1846)
Pius IX (1846-1878)
Leo XIII (1878-1903)
St. Pius X (1903-1914)
Benedict XV (1914-1922)
Pius XI (1922-1939)
Pius XII (1939-1958)
St. John XXIII (1958-1963)
Paul VI (1963-1978)
John Paul I (1978)
St. John Paul II (1978-2005)
Benedict XVI (2005-2013) #
Francis (2013-2025)

The Roman Catholic popes of the past 135 years, from Leo XIII onwards, have witnessed the Church navigate immense changes, including both world wars, the rise of communism, the Second Vatican Council, and the increasing secularization of society. Their leadership has shaped the Church's response to these challenges, influencing doctrines, practices, and its relationships with other religions and the world.