The longest conclave lasted almost three years. Thankfully, the timeframe has changed drastically in recent years.

Cardinals have returned to the Sistine Chapel for the second day of the secretive process to elect the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

John Paul I — the pope who reigned for 33 days — was elected on the third ballot in 1978. There are no official candidates for the papacy, but some cardinals are considered “papabile,” or ...

The cardinal of Baghdad, Louis Raphael Sako, reportedly told journalists at the Vatican on Tuesday that he expects a "short conclave" that could select Pope Francis' successor in as little as two ...

Pope John Paul I — the pontiff who reigned for 33 days in 1978 — was elected on the third ballot. His successor, Pope John Paul II, needed eight. Pope Francis was elected on the fifth in 2013.

Then, less than two months later, on September 28, his successor John Paul I - the 'Smiling Pope' - passed away aged just 65 after just 33 days as Pontiff. His sudden death and the actions of ...

St. John Paul II called Faustina’s canonization and Divine Mercy Sunday the happiest day of his life — a summit moment of his papacy and personal mission. Pope John Paul II laughs during a gat ...

The conclaves to choose the last two popes -- Pope Benedict in 2005 and Francis in 2013 -- each lasted two days. It took three days to elect Pope John Paul II in 1978. Francis, who died last ...