How long was the last conclave: complete essential guide – 3 key facts

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how long was the last conclave

If you have ever wondered how the Catholic Church chooses a new Pope, one of the most practical questions is this: how long was the last conclave? It is a fair query, not only because it helps place the 2013 election of Pope Francis in perspective, but also because it opens the door to understanding how papal elections work, why some take longer than others, and what we really mean by “length of a conclave”. In what follows, you will find a clear, friendly explanation suited to non-experts, with timelines, comparisons, and context that bring this centuries-old process to life.

At its simplest, a conclave is the gathering of eligible cardinals to elect a new Pope in the Sistine Chapel. Yet to answer how long was the last conclave precisely, we must decide which clock we are using: the time the doors close on the cardinals, the hours spent voting, the days of the vacancy in the papacy, or the moment the new Pope is presented to the world. We will explore each angle, give you the short answer first, then dive deeper into the details and history.

Answering how long was the last conclave: the short version

In modern terms, the most straightforward way to answer how long was the last conclave is to count from the formal start of the voting proceedings to the moment the white smoke appeared. By that measure, the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis lasted roughly twenty-five hours from entry to white smoke, spanning two calendar days (12–13 March 2013) and five ballots.

Here is the concise timeline most observers use:

Tuesday 12 March 2013: The cardinals processed into the Sistine Chapel in the afternoon and took the oath of secrecy. One ballot was held that evening, which was inconclusive (black smoke).
Wednesday 13 March 2013: Two ballots took place in the morning (still inconclusive), followed by two in the afternoon. The fifth ballot produced a two-thirds majority; white smoke appeared at around 19:06 Central European Time. The announcement Habemus Papam and the first appearance of Pope Francis followed later that evening.

So, if your question is simply how long was the last conclave from start to white smoke, the answer is: about a day, effectively two days on the calendar, with five ballots in total. If you prefer to count the entire period of papal vacancy, it ran from Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation on 28 February 2013 to the election on 13 March 2013—thirteen days.

Basic concepts you need to understand

Before going further, it helps to clarify a few key terms that affect how we interpret how long was the last conclave:

Sede vacante: The period when the papal seat is vacant—starting with the death or resignation of a Pope and ending with the election of a new one.
Extra omnes: The call for everyone not participating in the election to leave the Sistine Chapel; it marks the formal start of the conclave proceedings.
Black smoke/white smoke: The traditional signals sent from the Chapel roof to the crowds in St Peter’s Square—black for an inconclusive ballot, white for a successful election.
Two-thirds majority: The threshold required to elect a Pope, ensured by strict rules to prevent deadlock or a simple plurality deciding the papacy.

These concepts shape what we count when we ask how long was the last conclave, because they define the practical stages and milestones of the process.

What exactly do we mean by “length” when we ask how long was the last conclave?

There are three common ways people measure the duration of a conclave, and each is valid in its own context:

From Extra omnes to white smoke: This is the core voting period, starting when the cardinals are sealed in the Sistine Chapel and ending when a Pope is elected. By this measure, the 2013 conclave lasted about twenty-five hours over two days.
From the first ballot to the public announcement: Some prefer to include not only the voting itself but also the interval before the new Pope appears. In 2013, the announcement followed within roughly one to two hours of the white smoke.
From the start of the vacancy to election: A broader view tracks the entire sede vacante, which includes administrative preparations and daily meetings of the cardinals beforehand. In 2013, that was thirteen days in total.

When journalists and historians say “the conclave lasted two days”, they are almost always using the first definition. This is the convention behind the most common answers to how long was the last conclave.

The 2013 conclave timeline in detail

From resignation to Extra omnes

Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation on 11 February 2013, becoming the first Pope in centuries to step down. His resignation took effect at 20:00 on 28 February 2013, beginning the sede vacante. Over the following days, cardinals arrived in Rome and held daily General Congregations to discuss the state of the Church, practical arrangements, and what qualities the next Pope should have. While these meetings are not part of the conclave proper, they shape the outcome and help explain how long was the last conclave when the doors finally closed.

On Tuesday 12 March, the cardinals processed into the Sistine Chapel, took their oaths of secrecy, and the Master of Ceremonies pronounced “Extra omnes”. One ballot followed that evening. Black smoke rose, indicating no election that day.

Ballots and smoke on 13 March

The next morning (Wednesday 13 March), cardinals met for two further ballots, with black smoke signalling that no candidate had yet reached two-thirds. After a break, the electors returned for two afternoon ballots. On the fifth ballot, the chosen candidate received the required majority. White smoke appeared shortly after 19:00, with the bells of St Peter’s sounding and crowds cheering in the square.

By the time the new Pope chose the name Francis and accepted the office, the formalities were completed; he appeared on the balcony later that evening. For those counting how long was the last conclave from Extra omnes to the moment the world first saw the new Pope, that span is just over a day.

How 2013 compares with other modern conclaves

Modern conclaves tend to be relatively swift, thanks to clear rules, improved logistics, and prior consultations among the cardinals. The 2005 conclave that elected Benedict XVI took place over two days and four ballots; both 1978 conclaves (first electing John Paul I, then John Paul II) also lasted around two to three days. Set against these, how long was the last conclave in 2013? Again, around two days from entry to white smoke, which fits the pattern of speed seen since the mid-20th century.

Shorter modern conclaves are not accidental. They reflect:

Smaller, well-defined electorates (cardinals under 80 years old).
Regular pre-conclave meetings that surface key priorities and challenges.
Clear voting procedures, allowing up to four ballots per full day.
The two-thirds requirement, which encourages consensus and discourages prolonged stalemate.

Why some conclaves take longer

While the answer to how long was the last conclave may be “just over a day”, history shows that conclaves sometimes extend when consensus proves difficult. Factors include:

Geopolitical context: Intense political or social pressures can complicate the choice. In earlier centuries, secular rulers often attempted to influence outcomes.
Competing priorities: The College of Cardinals may weigh doctrinal, pastoral, administrative, and diplomatic needs differently, requiring several rounds to forge agreement.
Size and diversity of the College: A broader international representation can enrich discussion but also lengthen the path to consensus.
Personal knowledge of candidates: The more familiar the cardinals are with potential candidates, the quicker agreement may form.

By contrast, in 2013 there was a widely shared sense of the challenges facing the Church and of the type of leadership needed, which helped explain why how long was the last conclave was measured in hours rather than weeks.

From marathons to sprints: the longest conclaves in history

Knowing how long was the last conclave invites comparison with the past. The outlier remains the conclave of 1268–1271 in Viterbo, which lasted nearly three years and led to the very notion of locking in the electors to encourage a decision—hence “conclave”, literally “with key”. In the early modern era, the conclave of 1740 lasted about 181 days; later, the 1830–31 conclave took 50 days. Compared with these marathons, the two-day pattern of the late 20th and early 21st centuries looks positively brisk.

What changed? In short, the rules became clearer, the elector pool more defined, and the influence of external powers diminished. Media scrutiny also creates a sense of urgency, even if the cardinals are shielded from direct pressure.

Rules and logistics that shape duration

The norms governing conclaves, including how many ballots to hold per day and how to handle stalemates, are laid down in the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis (1996), amended slightly in later documents. These detail the schedule—typically two ballots in the morning and two in the afternoon after the first day—and the two-thirds majority threshold. Understanding these norms helps you interpret how long was the last conclave and why it followed a predictable rhythm over 12–13 March 2013.

For authoritative details on the legal framework, see the official text of Universi Dominici Gregis on the Vatican website. For background and a narrative timeline, the Wikipedia article on the 2013 papal conclave and Encyclopaedia Britannica’s overview of papal conclaves are accessible resources. For broader historical perspective, the general Wikipedia page on papal conclaves provides lists and context.

Context that adds nuance to how long was the last conclave

A few further points can refine our understanding of how long was the last conclave:

Resignation vs. death: The 2013 conclave followed a resignation rather than a death, which changed some practical rhythms (for example, funeral rites) but not the core voting process.
Pre-conclave discussions: The General Congregations allowed cardinals to share perceptions and priorities. While these do not “decide” an election, they help align expectations—often shortening the later voting.
Fifth-ballot outcome: A fifth-ballot result is a sign of relatively quick convergence. A drawn-out series of ballots, by contrast, signals that multiple candidates were being seriously tested.

As a small aside, references to Pope Benedict XVI often use Roman numerals. If you are ever unsure about reading numerals in papal names, this brief explainer on Roman numerals like XVI explained can help.

Comparing Catholic conclaves with other Christian leadership choices

Another way to frame how long was the last conclave is to contrast it with leadership selections in other Christian traditions, which often use synods, councils, or elections with broader electorates and different timeframes. Understanding the Catholic conclave’s compact schedule and tight rules clarifies why it typically finishes in a matter of days rather than weeks. For a general primer on how Catholic and Orthodox traditions differ more broadly, see this overview of differences between Orthodox and Catholic traditions.

Interpreting headlines and timelines: how long was the last conclave in the media

When reading news coverage, note precisely what is being measured. Some reports say “two days”, others say “about a day”, and still others mention “thirteen days” in relation to the vacancy. All can be true, depending on whether the reporter is counting from Extra omnes to white smoke, including the time to the public announcement, or referring to the entire sede vacante. If you keep the definitions straight, you will never be confused by how long was the last conclave in headlines.

Another subtlety is the time zone. Reports often quote the white smoke at around 19:06 local time in Rome. When you see a different time in an international outlet, check whether it has been converted to the outlet’s time zone. That way, a simple detail does not distort your sense of how long was the last conclave.

Practical takeaways if you are following a future conclave

When the next conclave happens, you can apply the same framework used here for how long was the last conclave:

Mark the start: Watch for the procession into the Sistine Chapel and the call of Extra omnes.
Track smoke times: Expect one ballot the first afternoon, then typically two in the morning and two in the afternoon on subsequent days.
Remember the threshold: Two-thirds is required, so swift results usually mean an early consensus candidate emerges.
Allow time after white smoke: There is a period for acceptance, name choice, and vesting before the new Pope appears.

Armed with these points, you will be able to interpret live coverage and confidently answer for yourself how long was the last conclave and how long the current one is taking.

Recommended external resources

Common misconceptions and easy mistakes

Confusing the vacancy with the conclave: Saying the conclave lasted thirteen days is only correct if you mean the entire vacancy; the voting lasted about
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