{{Confused|text=the Western Schism, which from 1409 to 1414 saw three simultaneous claimants to the Papacy}} {{Short description|Year in which the Catholic Church elects two popes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}} A '''year of three popes''' is a year when the College of Cardinals of the Catholic Church is required to elect two new popes within the same calendar year. The term is most often used in reference to 1978, the most recent year this has occurred.<ref>{{cite web |publisher= Kildare and Leighlin Diocese |url= http://www.kandle.ie/2008/08/30/1978-the-year-of-three-popes/ |title= 1978:– The Year of Three Popes |date= 30 August 2008 |access-date= 28 September 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101228170951/http://www.kandle.ie/2008/08/30/1978-the-year-of-three-popes/ |archive-date= 28 December 2010}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine |last=History |first=Made by |date=2025-04-22 |title=Expect the Unexpected From the Papal Conclave |url=https://time.com/7263529/expecting-the-unexpected-from-papal-conclave/ |access-date=2025-07-07 |magazine=TIME |language=en}}</ref> Such a year has historically occurred when a newly elected pope dies very early into his papacy, resulting in the Catholic Church being led by three different popes in the same calendar year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishpost.com/news/1978-the-year-of-the-three-popes-287793|title=1978 — the year of the three popes|first=Mal|last=Rogers|website=The Irish Post}}</ref> In 1276, there was an instance of a year of ''four'' popes.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2023/08/the-year-of-four-popes.html|title=The Year of the Four Popes}}</ref>
==Instances== There have been twelve instances in which exactly three popes have held office in a given calendar year. *827: Eugene II<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05598b.htm |title= Pope Eugene II |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100809103834/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05598b.htm |archive-date= 9 August 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> — Valentine<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15254b.htm |title= Pope Valentine |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100809104038/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15254b.htm |archive-date= 9 August 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> — Gregory IV<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06789b.htm |title= Pope Gregory IV |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101030150207/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06789b.htm |archive-date= 30 October 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> (Valentine had reigned only 41 days when he died.) *896: Formosus<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06139b.htm |title= Pope Formosus |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101103190308/http://newadvent.org/cathen/06139b.htm |archive-date= 3 November 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> — Boniface VI<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02661b.htm |title= Pope Boniface VI |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101104135226/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02661b.htm |archive-date= 4 November 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> — Stephen VI<ref name="stephen">{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14289d.htm |title= Pope Stephen (VI) VII |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101103111050/http://newadvent.org/cathen/14289d.htm |archive-date= 3 November 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> (After reigning for just fifteen days, Boniface VI is said by some to have died of gout or been forcibly ejected) *897: Stephen VI<ref name="stephen"/> — Romanus<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13163b.htm |title= Pope Romanus |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100807215238/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13163b.htm |archive-date= 7 August 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> — Theodore II<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14570b.htm |title= Pope Theodore II |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100809104026/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14570b.htm |archive-date= 9 August 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> (Pontificate of Romanus ended when he was deposed and confined to a monastery.) *964: Leo VIII<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09160b.htm |title= Pope Leo VIII |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101104094600/http://newadvent.org/cathen/09160b.htm |archive-date= 4 November 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> — Benedict V<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02428b.htm |title= Pope Benedict V |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100807214501/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02428b.htm |archive-date= 7 August 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> — John XIII<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08427a.htm |title= Pope John XIII |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100809103955/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08427a.htm |archive-date= 9 August 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> (Leo VIII was overthrown, then Benedict V himself was overthrown) *1003: Sylvester II<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14371a.htm |title= Pope Silvester II |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101102085628/http://newadvent.org/cathen/14371a.htm |archive-date= 2 November 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> — John XVII<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08428b.htm |title= Pope John XVII (XVIII) |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101126010933/http://newadvent.org/cathen/08428b.htm |archive-date= 26 November 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> — John XVIII<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08429a.htm |title= Pope John XVIII (XIX) |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101021020041/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08429a.htm |archive-date= 21 October 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> (John XVII died less than six months after taking office) *1045: Sylvester III<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12272b.htm |title= List of Popes |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100926192058/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12272b.htm |archive-date= 26 September 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="antipope" group=lower-alpha>Sylvester III and Gregory VI are sometimes considered antipopes.</ref> — Benedict IX (second reign)<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02429a.htm |title= Pope Benedict IX |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100801034033/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02429a.htm |archive-date= 1 August 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> — Gregory VI<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06791a.htm |title= Pope Gregory VI |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100809103909/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06791a.htm |archive-date= 9 August 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="antipope" group=lower-alpha /> (Benedict IX gave up the papacy to his godfather after a month in exchange for money) *1187: Urban III<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15211a.htm |title= Pope Urban III |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101018122741/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15211a.htm |archive-date= 18 October 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> — Gregory VIII<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06795a.htm |title= Pope Gregory VIII |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120111165817/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06795a.htm |archive-date= 11 January 2012 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> — Clement III<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04018a.htm |title= Pope Clement III |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120517151845/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04018a.htm |archive-date= 17 May 2012 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> (Gregory VIII died of fever after 57 days in office) *1503: Alexander VI<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01289a.htm |title= Pope Alexander VI |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100919000433/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01289a.htm |archive-date= 19 September 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> — Pius III<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12128a.htm |title= Pope Pius III |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100807215051/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12128a.htm |archive-date= 7 August 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> — Julius II<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08562a.htm |title= Pope Julius II |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101027010816/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08562a.htm |archive-date= 27 October 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> (Pius III died of a septic ulcer on his leg after 26 days in office) *1555: Julius III<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08564a.htm |title= Pope Julius III |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101005065052/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08564a.htm |archive-date= 5 October 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> — Marcellus II<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09641a.htm |title= Pope Marcellus II |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101004013454/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09641a.htm |archive-date= 4 October 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> — Paul IV<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11581a.htm |title= Pope Paul IV |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140811142133/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11581a.htm |archive-date= 11 August 2014 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> (Marcellus II died of a stroke after 22 days in office) *1590: Sixtus V<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14033a.htm |title= Pope Sixtus V |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100926080248/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14033a.htm |archive-date= 26 September 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> — Urban VII<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15218a.htm |title= Pope Urban VII |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100809104031/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15218a.htm |archive-date= 9 August 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> — Gregory XIV<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07004a.htm |title= Pope Gregory XIV |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101009140939/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07004a.htm |archive-date= 9 October 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> (Urban VII died of malaria after 12 days in office, making him the shortest reigning pope) *1605: Clement VIII<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04027a.htm |title= Pope Clement VIII |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101105235857/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04027a.htm |archive-date= 5 November 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> — Leo XI<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09166a.htm |title= Pope Leo XI |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101104101911/http://newadvent.org/cathen/09166a.htm |archive-date= 4 November 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> — Paul V<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11581b.htm |title= Pope Paul V |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100918135323/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11581b.htm |archive-date= 18 September 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> (Leo XI died of a fever after 27 days in office) *1978: Paul VI — John Paul I — John Paul II (John Paul I died, likely from a heart attack, after 33 days in office)<ref name=":0" />
The Catholic Church also had a '''Year of Four Popes''':
*1276: Gregory X<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06798a.htm |title= Pope Gregory X |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120702101151/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06798a.htm |archive-date= 2 July 2012 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> — Innocent V<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08018a.htm |title= Pope Innocent V |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100802033601/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08018a.htm |archive-date= 2 August 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> — Adrian V<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01159a.htm |title= Pope Adrian V |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100807213134/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01159a.htm |archive-date= 7 August 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> — John XXI<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08429c.htm |title= Pope John XXI (XX) |encyclopedia= Catholic Encyclopedia |access-date= 28 September 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171224170153/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08429c.htm |archive-date= 24 December 2017 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> (Innocent V died five months after election, then his successor Adrian V died after a month as pope)<ref name=":1" />
==See also== {{portal|Catholicism}} *List of popes by length of reign *Western Schism, which from 1409 to 1414 saw three simultaneous claimants to the Papacy *Year of the Three Kings *Year of the Three Emperors *Year of three prime ministers
==Notes== {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
==References==
===Footnotes=== {{Reflist}}
===Bibliography=== {{refbegin}} *{{cite book |first= Peter |last= Hebblethwaite |title= The Year of Three Popes |url= https://archive.org/details/yearofthreepopes00hebb |url-access= registration |publisher= William Collins |year= 1979|isbn= 978-0-529-05652-8 }} {{refend}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Year Of Three Popes}} Category:History of the papacy