Duration of papal conclaves

Year elected
1903
Pius X
1914
Benedict XV
1922
Pius XI
1939
Pius XII
1958
John XXIII
1963
Paul VI
1978
John Paul I
1978
John Paul II
2005
Benedict XVI
2013
Francis I
2025
Leo XIV

Days
5
4
5
2
4
3
2
3
2
2
2

Number of ballots*
7
10
14
3
11
6
4
8
4†
5†
4

*Four votes
held daily from
second day of
conclave, with
ballots burned
after each
morning and
afternoon
session

†Smoke only seen
three times

Sources: NBC, Catholic Hierarchy
Pictures: Creative Commons, Getty
© GRAPHIC NEWS