VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The last few popes have been elected and installed within a fairly short period of time after the deaths of their predecessors.
- Pope John XXIII died June 3, 1963, and his funeral was held June 6. The conclave to choose his successor began June 19 and lasted two days. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini, who took the name Paul VI, was elected on June 21. He was installed June 30.
- Pope Paul VI died Aug. 6, 1978, and his funeral was held Aug. 12. The conclave to choose his successor began Aug. 25. A day later, Aug. 26, the cardinals elected Cardinal Albino Luciano, who chose the name John Paul I. He was installed Sept. 3.
- Pope John Paul I died less than a month later, on Sept. 28, 1978, and his funeral was held Oct. 4. The conclave to choose his successor began Oct. 15 and Cardinal Karol Wojtyla was elected on the second day of voting, Oct. 16. Pope John Paul II was installed Oct. 22.
- Pope John Paul II died April 2, 2005, and his funeral was celebrated April 8. Under the leadership of its dean, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the College of Cardinals entered into the conclave April 18 and elected the dean as pope the next day. He took the name Pope Benedict XVI and inaugurated his pontificate April 24.
- Pope Benedict XVI announced Feb. 11 that he was resigning effective Feb. 28.
