The Length of Recent Conclaves
1903: 7 ballots, Habsburg (Austria) veto against Cardinal Rampolla, 5 days, Pius X
1914: 10 ballots, 4 days, Benedict XV [private secretary and close friend of Rampolla]
1922: 14 ballots, 5 days, Pius XI
1939: 3 ballots, 2 days, Pius XII, [secretary to Rampolla 1901-1903]
1958: 11 ballots, 4 days, John XXIII
1963: 6 ballots, 3 days, Paul VI
1978: 4 ballots, 2 days, John Paul I
1978: 8 ballots, 3 days, John Paul II
2005: 4 ballots, 2 days, Benedict XVI
2013: 5 ballots, 2 days, Francis
The diplomats have a stranglehold on the Vatican. Benedict XV, Pius XI, Pius XII, John XXIII and Paul VI were part of the Vatican's diplomatic section. With the exception of Benedict XVI, all the others - Pius X, John Paul II, and Francis - chose diplomats as their second men.
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