The Year of Three Popes or the Summer of Three Popes was 1978, when Pope Paul VI was succeeded by Pope John Paul I, who died only 33 days after taking office, leading to the election of the long-reigning Pope John Paul II.

Other years with three or more popes

There have been several other times when a Pope died, or otherwise left office, soon after being elected, resulting in a year with three popes. These are:

• 752, Pope Zacharias-Pope Stephen II-Pope Stephen III
• 827, Pope Eugene II-Pope Valentinus-Pope Gregory IV
• 896, Pope Formosus-Pope Boniface VI-Pope Stephen VII
• 897, Pope Stephen VII-Pope Romanus-Pope Theodore II
• 928, Pope John X-Pope Leo VI-Pope Stephen VIII
• 965, Pope Benedict V-Pope Leo VIII-Pope John XIII
• 1003, Pope Silvester II-Pope John XVII-Pope John XVIII
• 1046, Pope Gregory VI-Pope Clement II-Pope Benedict IX
• 1187, Pope Urban III-Pope Gregory VIII-Pope Clement III
• 1555, Pope Julius III-Pope Marcellus II-Pope Paul IV
• 1590, Pope Sixtus V-Pope Urban VII-Pope Gregory XIV
• 1605, Pope Clement VIII-Pope Leo XI-Pope Paul V

There was also one year with four popes:

• 1276, Pope Gregory X-Pope Innocent V-Pope Adrian V-Pope John XXI

See also

• list of 10 shortest-reigning popes