84

 6 MAY 2025. Eighty-Four. Eighty-Four (depending on how one is counted; more on that below) popes of the Church have been recognized as saints. From Saint Peter, the rock upon whom Christ founded his bride--the Church, to Pope Saint John Paul II, the pope of my entire childhood of memory, there have been 84 popes acknowledged by the Church as residents of the Heavenly homeland. 

 As we the Church are a community of those called to be saints--to truly live in accord with and be docile to the Word and, so, to share eternal life with the Lord in His presence--we should pray that the next pope, on this eve of the conclave, be a saint!

Looking, briefly, at the history of the papacy we see that all of the first 35 leaders of the Church are recognized as saints. 31 of these were witnesses of our Lord Jesus Christ in the giving up of their very lives, dying as martyrs for the faith!

Pope Liberius (pope from 17 May 352 until 24 September 366) is considered a saint by the Orthodox Church. While not officially recognized as a Saint of the western Church, Liberius had defenders in both Pope Blessed Pius IX and Pope Benedict XV.

Following these first 35 sainted pontificates, many more leaders of the Church in Rome have given their lives to God and for the Church and shepherded the Church fearlessly through two millenia.

Pope Saint Martin I (pope from 21 July 649 until 16 September 655) is recognized as the last pope to die as a martyr for the faith. 

 

 

On this conclave-eve, we join all faithful and people of goodwill throughout the world in our payer for the election of the next Pope.

 

O God, eternal shepherd,

who govern your flock with unfailing care,

grant in your boundless fatherly love

a pastor for your Church

who will please you by his holiness

and to us show watchful care.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Excerpt from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010 International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.