The 265, 266, 264 or 263 Dilemma

One of the first challenges I ran into when I started writing about papal history was how to accurately (and hopefully, faithfully) address the question as to the number of legitimate popes we have had -- up to and including Pope Benedict XVI, who was elected in April 2005. It appeared that I could, in good conscience, choose any number between 263 and 266.

The Vatican has Pope Benedict XVI as the 265th pope -- but the Vatican list, alack, is not exactly chiseled on Carrara marble. A revision to the Vatican list of popes is one of the reasons that there is this discrepancy.

The original Stephen (II), died on March 26, 752, four days after being legitimately elected. For 400 years, up to 1961, he appeared on the Vatican list as a bona fide pope. But then his name was removed because he died before he had been consecrated as the Bishop of Rome. So references and lists prior to 1961 include this Stephen II. He also appears on some online papal lists -- in particular the one maintained by Wikipedia.

If Stephen (II) is omitted, Pope Benedict XVI is the 265th legitimate pope.

But then there is also the unprecedented three terms of Pope Benedict IX between 1032 and 1048. Some count him as one pope who held office three separate times. By that reckoning, Pope Benedict XVI is the 263rd pope -- if you also omit Stephen (II).

Please click here for a detailed discussion on this topic on the "Number of Popes" page on this Web site.
  

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