The Path to a New Pontiff

On the outside, the election of a new Pope is a carefully choreographed ritual steeped in Catholic tradition. On the inside, it's often about politics and personalities.

By Jeff Israely/Rome and Kristina Dell/New York Monday, Apr. 11, 2005

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Constantine

St. Gregory II

St. Gregory III

St. Zachary

Stephen II

Stephen III

St. Paul I

Stephen IV

Adrian I

800

St. Leo III

Stephen V

St. Paschal I

Eugene II

Valentine

Gregory IV

Sergius II

St. Leo IV

Benedict III

St. Nicholas I

Adrian II

John VIII

Marinus I

St. Adrian III

Stephen VI

Formosus

Boniface VI

Stephen VII

Romanus

Theodore II

John IX

900

Benedict IV

Leo V

Sergius III

Anastasius III

Lando

John X

Leo VI

Stephen VIII

John XI

Leo VII

Stephen IX

Marinus II

Agapetus II

John XII

Leo VIII

Benedict V

John XIII

Benedict VI

Benedict VII

John XIV

John XV

Gregory V

Sylvester II

1000

John XVII

John XVIII

Sergius IV

Benedict VIII

John XIX

Benedict IX

Sylvester III

Benedict IX

Gregory VI

Clement II

Benedict IX

Damasus II

St. Leo IX

Victor II

Stephen X

Nicholas II

Alexander II

St. Gregory VII

Victor III

Urban II

1100

Paschal II

Gelasius II

Callistus II

Honorius II

Innocent II

Celestine II

Lucius II

Eugene III

Anastasius IV

Adrian IV

Alexander III

Lucius III

Urban III

Gregory VIII

Clement III

Celestine III

1200

Innocent III

Honorius III

Gregory IX

Celestine IV

Innocent IV

Alexander IV

Urban IV

Clement IV

Gregory X

Innocent V

Adrian V

John XXI

Nicholas III

Martin IV

Honorius IV

Nicholas IV

St. Celestine V

1300

Boniface VIII

Benedict XI

Clement V

John XXII

Benedict XII

Clement VI

Innocent VI

Urban V

Gregory XI

Urban VI

1400

Boniface IX

Innocent VII

Gregory XII

Martin V

Eugene IV

Nicholas V

Callistus III

Pius II

Paul II

Sixtus IV

Innocent VIII

1500

Alexander VI

Pius III

Julius II

Leo X

Adrian VI

Clement VII

Paul III

Julius III

Marcellus II

Paul IV

Pius IV

St. Pius V

Gregory XIII

Sixtus V

Urban VII

Gregory XIV

Innocent IX

1600

Clement VIII

Leo XI

Paul V

Gregory XV

Urban VIII

Innocent X

Alexander VII

Clement IX

Clement X

Innocent XI

Alexander VIII

1700

Innocent XII

Clement XI

Innocent XIII

Benedict XIII

Clement XII

Benedict XIV

Clement XIII

Clement XIV

Pius VI

1800

Pius VII

Leo XII

Pius VIII

Gregory XVI

Pius IX

1900

Leo XIII

St. Pius X

Benedict XV

Pius XI

Pius XII

John XXIII