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Those who want to become pope must actually be of a certain minimum age. However, this is not as high as you might think. Other criteria are more important.
Becoming pope: Here is the minimum age
Led, baptized and male: these are the criteria a person must meet to become pope. The person chosen does not even have to be a cardinal or bishop. Age also plays a marginal role.
- A look at the popes of past centuries suggests that the head of the Catholic Church should definitely be of senior age. But that is not true.
- In fact, men can also be elected pope from the age of 35. In practice, however, it has not happened for hundreds of years that such a young man has held the office.
- Pius IX and John Paul II were among the youngest of those elected. The former was just 54 years old when he was elected pope in 1846. John Paul II was just 58 years old when he was elected in 1978.
- The last Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday 2025, was a proud 76 years old when he was elected in 2013. Francis was born in Buenos Aires on December 7, 1936.
- By the way, there is also a set age for the cardinals eligible to vote in a papal election. Once they reach the age of 80, they are no longer allowed to take part in the election.
These criteria are important for the papal election
In theory, any male Catholic who is baptized and unmarried can become Pope and thus succeed Pope Francis. In practice, of course, it is not quite so simple.
- The first paragraph of Canon 332 of the Codex Iuris Canonici states, in addition to the minimum age, that even men who do not hold the title of bishop could occupy the office of pope. However, the person would have to be ordained a bishop immediately, for which a minimum age of 35 years applies.
- However, it is common for a bishop, cardinal, priest or deacon to have the best chance of becoming the head of the Catholic Church.
- In addition, the chosen person should have received a university education in biblical studies, theology or canon law.
- All cardinals entitled to vote come together for the secret conclave. Experts expect a difficult election. Only when white smoke rises from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel is the decision made with at least a two-thirds majority.
