Year of Three Popes
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The Year of Three Popes or the Summer of Three Popes is a common reference to 1978 when the College of Cardinals was forced to elect in papal conclaves new popes in rapid succession due to death. This resulted in a year, more specifically the summer, in which the Roman Catholic Church was led by three different men. Pope Paul VI died on August 6 and was succeeded by John Paul I, who was elected on August 26, but died thirty-three days later on September 28. His death resulted in the election of Pope John Paul II (on October 16), who reigned until 2005.
There have been several instances in which three or more popes have reigned in a given year. Years in which the Roman Catholic Church was led by three different popes include:
- 827, Pope Eugene II — Pope Valentine — Pope Gregory IV
- 896, Pope Formosus — Pope Boniface VI — Pope Stephen VI
- 897, Pope Stephen VI — Pope Romanus — Pope Theodore II
- 928, Pope John X — Pope Leo VI — Pope Stephen VII
- 965, Pope Leo VIII — Pope Benedict V — Pope John XIII
- 1003, Pope Silvester II — Pope John XVII — Pope John XVIII
- 1187, Pope Urban III — Pope Gregory VIII — Pope Clement III
- 1503. Pope Alexander VI — Pope Pius III — Pope Julius II
- 1555, Pope Julius III — Pope Marcellus II — Pope Paul IV
- 1590, Pope Sixtus V — Pope Urban VII — Pope Gregory XIV
- 1605, Pope Clement VIII — Pope Leo XI — Pope Paul V
- 1978, Pope Paul VI — Pope John Paul I — Pope John Paul II
There was also a year in which the Roman Catholic Church was led by four popes (Year of four Popes):
