Who Is the Current Pope
The current pope is Pope Francis, the 266th pope in the official Catholic list. He was elected on March 13, 2013, and is the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit pope.
What Does Pope Number Mean
The pope number is a sequential count of men who have held the title of Bishop of Rome. It is based on historical lists maintained by the Vatican and recognized by scholars. The numbering helps distinguish popes with the same name, such as multiple Johns or Benedicts.
How the Pope Number Is Determined
The number is assigned in order of acceptance of election, not by birth date or reign length. Antipopes and disputed figures are usually excluded from the main count. The official list is recorded in documents such as the Annuario Pontificio and referenced by sources like the Vatican's own website Vatican.va.
