Title: List of popes by length of reign Content: The List of popes by length of reign is using two organizing standards—identifying the longests and the shortest ones. ==Popes== The term pope is the name several churches give to their highest spiritual leader. In English, the term usually means the head of the Catholic Church. The most accurate information about the popes is published every year by the Holy See in the Annuario Pontificio. ==Popes with the longest reigns== Including Peter, who was the first Bishop of Rome and the first pope, the list of the 11 longest-reigning popesCatholic Encyclopedia, "List of Popes"; retrieved 2011-11-9. includes: : # Saint Peter (30–64 or 67): 34 or 37 years. # Pius IX (1846–1878):"Pope Pius IX," Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-9. 31 years, 7 months and 23 days (11,560 days). # John Paul II (1978–2005): 26 years, 5 months and 17 days (9,665 days) # Leo XIII (1878–1903):"Pope Leo XIII," Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-9. 25 years, 5 months and 1 day (9,281 days). # Pius VI (1775–1799):"Pope Pius VI," Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-9. 24 years, 6 months and 15 days (8,962 days). # Adrian I (772–795):"Pope Adrian I," Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-9. 23 years, 10 months and 25 days (8,729 days). # Pius VII (1800–1823):"Pope Pius VII," Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-9. 23 years, 5 months and 7 days (8,560 days). # Alexander III (1159–1181):"Pope Alexander III," Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-9. 21 years, 11 months and 24 days (8,029 days). # St. Sylvester I (314–335):"Pope Sylvester I (314-335)," Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-9. 21 years, 11 months and 1 day (8,005 days). # St. Leo I (440–461):"Pope St. Leo I (the Great)," Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-9. 21 years, 1 month, and 13 days. (7,713 days). # Urban VIII (1623–1644):"Pope Urban VIII," Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-9. 20 years, 11 months and 24 days (7,664 days). ==Popes with the shortest reigns== The list of the 11 shortest-reigning popes includes: # Urban VII (September 15–September 27, 1590):"Pope Urban VII," Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-9. reigned for 13 calendar days,The number of calendar days includes part days, e.g., if a pope's reign commenced on 1 August and he died on 2 August, this would count as having reigned for two calendar days. died before consecration. # Boniface VI (April, 896):"Pope Boniface VI," Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-9. reigned for 16 calendar days # Celestine IV (October 25–November 10, 1241):"Pope Celestine IV," Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-3. reigned for 17 calendar days, died before consecration. # Theodore II (December, 897):"Pope Theodore II," Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-3. reigned for 20 calendar days # Sisinnius (January 15–February 4, 708):"Pope Sisinnius," Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-3. reigned for 21 calendar days # Marcellus II (April 9–May 1, 1555):"Pope Marcellus II," Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-3. reigned for 22 calendar days # Damasus II (July 17–August 9, 1048):"Pope Damasus II", Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-8. reigned for 24 calendar days # Pius III (September 22–October 18, 1503):"Pope Pius III," Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-9. reigned for 27 calendar days. # Leo XI (April 1–April 27, 1605):"Pope Leo XI", Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-9. reigned for 27 calendar days # Benedict V (May 22–June 23, 964):"Pope Benedict V," Catholic Encyclopedia; retrieved 2011-11-9. reigned for 33 calendar days. # John Paul I (August 26–September 28, 1978): reigned for 33 calendar days."Obituaries: The Smiling Pope," New York Times. November 6, 1978; retrieved 2011-11-9.