Benedict XVI 2 days, 4 ballots Pope Benedict XVI, Joseph Ratzinger was elected at 78 years old. There were 115 cardinals in the conclave which took place from April 18- 19, 2005.  Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation on February 11, 2013. His resignation went into effect on February 28, 2013. CNS photo ...read more

John Paul II 3 days, 8 ballots In the second conclave of the year, 100 electors gathered from October 14-16, 1978 to elect Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, John Paul II. He was the first non-Italian since the Dutch pope, Pope Adrian VI, in 1522. Pope John Paul II died on April 2, 2005. CNS photo ...read more

John Paul I 2 days, 4 ballots 101 cardinals elected Cardinal Albino Luciani, Pope John Paul I during a conclave which ran from August 25 – 26, 1978.  Pope John Paul I died 34 days after his election on September 28. He was 65 years old. CNS photo ...read more

Paul VI 3 days, 6 ballots Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini, Paul VI was chosen in a conclave with 80 cardinals present.The conclave took place from June 19-21, 1963. Pope Paul VI was 65 years old when he was elected and died 15 years later on August 6, 1978. CNS photo ...read more

John XXIII 3 days, 11 ballots Fifty-one cardinals were in the conclave of October 25-28, 1958 when Cardinal Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, John XXIII was elected. He was 76 years old at the time and he died on June 3, 1963. It was Pope John XXIII who called the Second Vatican Council on October 11, 1962. CNS photo ...read more

Pius XII 2 days, 3 ballots The conclave took place from 1 to 2 of March 1939. 62 Cardinals were present. The College of Cardinals elected Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, Pius XII. He was 63 years old. He died on October 9, 1958. CNS photo ...read more

Source: CCCB Website For the more than 1.2 billion Christians around the world who are members of our Church, this is an important and solemn moment. The Cardinals of the Catholic Church, in prayer and meditation, free from interference by the outside world, will begin their Conclave to elect a new Successor to the Apostle ...read more

Pius XI 4 days, 14 ballots Fifty-three cardinals gathered at the Vatican from February 2 – 6, 1922 to elect Cardinal Achille Ratti, Pius XI. He was 64 years old. He died on February 10, 1939. CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano ...read more

Benedict XV 4 days, 10 ballots Fifty-seven cardinals were present in the conclave from August 31 to September 3, 1914, electing Cardinal Giacomo della Chiesa, Pope Benedict XV. He was 59 years old. The Italian pope died on January 22, 1922. ...read more

Salt and Light producer Sebastian Gomes sits down with John Allen Jr. to discuss possible candidates for the Papacy. John is a multi-awarded journalist who specializes in Vatican affairs. ...read more