Cardinal Bergoglio, 76, is probably the ninth oldest of the 266 popes at the time of his election, accounting for some uncertainty because the age of many early popes remains unknown.
As a matter of actuarial science, Francis is not likely to have an especially long tenure. The nine previous men who were known to be 75 or older at the time of their election to the papacy served for an average of only five years.
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The Roman Catholic Church has gone through different fashions in the ages of its popes. They rose steadily throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, culminating with the selection of the 79-year-old Clement X in 1670. However, as the chart below suggests, there was also a very considerable increase in the life expectancy of popes during this period. Popes were starting their pontificates at a later age, but also ending them at a later age; thus, there was little change in the length of their papacies, which averaged about seven years.
As a matter of actuarial science, Francis is not likely to have an especially long tenure. The nine previous men who were known to be 75 or older at the time of their election to the papacy served for an average of only five years.
....
The Roman Catholic Church has gone through different fashions in the ages of its popes. They rose steadily throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, culminating with the selection of the 79-year-old Clement X in 1670. However, as the chart below suggests, there was also a very considerable increase in the life expectancy of popes during this period. Popes were starting their pontificates at a later age, but also ending them at a later age; thus, there was little change in the length of their papacies, which averaged about seven years.
