THE LONGEST SERVING POPES

THE LONGEST SERVING POPES
k Pope John Paul II's pontificate reaches 25 years on Thursday, putting it just short of the third-longest in history. The Vatican lists the pontificate of St. Peter, the first pope, as the longest. It says he served from A.D. 30 to 64 or 67, for a total of 34 or 37 years.
Next is Pope Pius IX, pope from 1846 to 1878, for a total of 31 years, seven months and 17 days. Leo XIII is third, serving from 1878 to 1903, or 25 years, four months and 17 days.