The Last 10 Conclaves: from Pius XI to Francis – the history of the election of the Popes.

The History of the Election of the Pope

The last Pope who was not a cardinal was Bartolomeo Prignano – Urban VI – in 1378. His pontificate established the tradition of electing the pontiff exclusively from the College of Cardinals. Modern conclaves also adhere to this tradition. Ten conclaves have passed, each differing in its complexity and intrigue.

Conclaves in the 20th Century

• Conclave of 1903: Pius X was elected, who opposed modernism in the church.
• Conclave of 1914: Benedict XV was elected, who made efforts to end World War I.

Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, the College of Cardinals has elected the Pope by holding conclaves of varying duration and intensity. The history of conclaves reflects the complex process of choosing a new head of the Catholic Church.