Benedict XVI’s Election
The conclave to elect Benedict XVI took place on April 18-19, 2005, lasting two days with four rounds of voting. Following the death of John Paul II on April 2, 2005, 115 cardinals convened for this historic event. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a prominent collaborator of John Paul II and a German theologian, was chosen. His election was swift, and he took the name Benedict XVI. Unprecedented in centuries, his reign saw his voluntary resignation in 2013.
- Date: April 18-19, 2005
- Duration: Two days, with four voting rounds.
- Context: Following John Paul II’s death, 115 cardinals under the age of 80 gathered for this conclave.
- Election: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a key collaborator of John Paul II and a German theologian, was chosen.
- Papal Name: Benedict XVI.
- Particularity: His election was rapid, and he became the first pope to resign in over 600 years when he stepped down in 2013.
Election of Pope Francis
Pope Francis’s conclave occurred on March 12-13, 2013, spanning two days with five rounds of voting. After Benedict XVI’s resignation, a conclave assembled 115 cardinals under the age of 80. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, was elected. Taking the name Francis, he became the first Latin American, Jesuit, and non-European pope in centuries.
- Date: March 12-13, 2013
- Duration: Two days, with five voting rounds.
- Context: Following Benedict XVI’s resignation, a conclave of 115 cardinals under the age of 80 convened.
- Election: Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, was chosen.
- Papal Name: Francis.
- Particularity: He was the first pope from Latin America, a Jesuit, and non-European in centuries.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: Who were the last three popes and when were they elected?
- Q: What were the key contexts surrounding each conclave?
- Q: What made each election unique?
A: The last three popes were Benedict XVI (2005), Francis (2013), and the recently deceased Pope Francis. Benedict XVI was elected in April 2005, following John Paul II’s death. Pope Francis was elected in March 2013, succeeding Benedict XVI, who had resigned.
A: Benedict XVI’s conclave took place following John Paul II’s death, with 115 cardinals under the age of 80. Pope Francis’s conclave occurred after Benedict XVI’s resignation, with another group of 115 cardinals under the age of 80.
A: Benedict XVI’s election was notable for its swiftness and his subsequent resignation in 2013, an unprecedented event in centuries. Pope Francis’s election marked the first time a Latin American, Jesuit, and non-European pope was chosen in centuries.
