List of 10 longest-reigning popes
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The 10 longest-reigning Popes whose reign lengths can be determined from contemporary historical data are the following:
- Pius IX (1846–1878): 31 years, 7 months and 23 days (11,560 days).
- John Paul II (1978–2005): 26 years, 5 months and 18 days (9,666 days).
- Leo XIII (1878–1903): 25 years, 5 months and 1 day (9,281 days).
- Pius VI (1775–1799): 24 years, 6 months and 15 days (8,962 days).
- Adrian I (772–795): 23 years, 10 months and 25 days (8,729 days).
- Pius VII (1800–1823): 23 years, 5 months and 7 days (8,560 days).
- Alexander III (1159–1181): 21 years, 11 months and 24 days (8,029 days).
- St. Sylvester I (314–335): 21 years, 11 months and 1 day (8,005 days).
- St. Leo I (440–461): 21 years, 1 month, and 13 days. (7,713 days).
- Urban VIII (1623–1644): 20 years, 11 months and 24 days (7,664 days).
[edit] St. Peter
The Roman Catholic Church recognizes St. Peter as the first Pope; however, the Roman Catholic listings of longest reigning popes exclude him.
[edit] Dates of his reign
Peter's reign has been determined from traditional sources, but their accuracy is far from certain. Traditionally, St. Peter is said to have spent 25 years in Rome. However, at least since the time when Pope Pius IX completed his 25th year as Pope in 1871, thus surpassing the traditional figure for Peter's sojourn in Rome, Peter's term as Pope has been reckoned from the time that Catholics consider Jesus to have bestowed the office upon him. This date cannot be known with any certainty, but is taken to be about 30. To add to the uncertainty, two different death years are proposed for Peter, 64 and 67. A reckoning of Peter as Pope for only the 25 years he traditionally spent in Rome would make him the fourth-longest-reigning pope.
[edit] Was Peter a pope at all?
Most non-Catholic Christians dispute St. Peter being on any list of popes at all, as there is no proof of any Bishop of Rome claiming the Papal title until centuries after the death of Jesus. Further, some groups hold that Peter was never even a bishop.
Roman Catholics, on the other hand, consider St. Peter necessarily to be the first pope by virtue of his reputed commission by Jesus (Matthew 16:18, "And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.") and because they believe he was the first Bishop of Rome, regardless of whether he was generally known by, or personally claimed, that title. By Catholic understanding, all later popes reign by virtue of their succession to St. Peter in his office.
Another argument is the definition of the Pope which is the Successor of St. Peter. If this definition is accepted, then St. Peter should not be considered as a Pope because St. Peter can not succeed himself. Originally, popes were styled "Vicar of Peter," before this was changed to "Vicar of Christ," which also seems to suggest that the pontiff is, by definition, a representative or successor of Peter.
For more discussion of disputes about the nature of papacy, and of the evolution of the term pope, see pope.
