The most recent pope before the current one, Pope Francis, was Pope Benedict XVI, who served for nearly 8 years.

Quick Scoop: What “last pope” means

Because Catholics have had a series of popes, “the last pope” can mean two different things:

  • The pope before the current one (Benedict XVI, predecessor of Francis).
  • The most recent pope whose reign has fully ended (also Benedict XVI, since Francis’ papacy continued after him).

In both everyday conversation and most news coverage, when people say “the last pope” right now, they usually mean Pope Benedict XVI , who stepped down before Pope Francis was elected.

How long was Pope Benedict XVI pope?

  • Start of papacy: 19 April 2005.
  • End of papacy (resignation effective): 28 February 2013.
  • Total length: about 7 years and 10 months (just under 8 years).

So if your question “how long was the last pope” is about the man who held the office just before the current pope, the answer is: just under eight years as pope.

Context: How this compares to other popes

Many popes have served longer than Benedict XVI:

  • Saint Peter is traditionally said to have led for about 34 years.
  • Pope Pius IX reigned about 31 years and is the longest verified papacy in modern records.
  • Pope John Paul II, just before Benedict XVI, served for more than 26 years.

Benedict XVI’s papacy, therefore, was moderate length by historical standards: not among the longest, but clearly more than a brief or transitional reign.

Mini FAQ

  • Q: Does “how long was the last pope” mean age or years in office?
    Usually it’s understood as years in office, not age at death. In Benedict’s case, he was 78 when elected and 85 when he resigned.
  • Q: Who is the current pope now?
    Currently, the pope is Francis, elected in March 2013 after Benedict XVI’s resignation.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.