Catholic Fun Facts

Total Number of Popes:

265

Most Common Name used by Popes:

John - There have been 23 Pope Johns

Longest Reigning Pope:

Pope Pius IX
1846-1878 (31 years, 7 months, 23 days)

Pope John Paul II comes in second place

1978-2005 (26 years, 5 months, 17 days)

Shortest Reigning Pope:

Pope Urban VII

Sept. 15, 1590 - Sept. 27, 1590 (13 days)

Canonized Popes:

76 Popes have been canonized saints - Pope John Paul II is currently in the beatification process and will most likely become the 77th canonized Pope.

Number of Catholic in America:

As of 2005, there was an estimated 66.3 million Catholics in the United States. That is approximately 22% of the total population.

Number of Catholics Worldwide:

According to the Vatican in 2005, there were 1.086 billion Catholics worldwide.

Countries with the most Catholics:

Brazil, Mexico, and the United States