image creditSaint Peter, who was the first Bishop of Rome and the first pope, is thought to have reigned for over 30 years, but the exact length is not known. The current office-holder is Pope Benedict XVI, who was elected in a papal conclave on 19 April 2005 and is expected to hold office until today, 28 February 2013, the date on which he has said he will resign.
He will become the first pope to resign since Pope Gregory XII in 1415, and the first to do so voluntarily since Pope Celestine V in 1294. The average length of the 265 papacies, prior to that of Benedict XVI, is about 7.2 years. Who are the 10 longest reigning popes?
(thanks Veljko)
