The Papal conclave of 1846 elects Pope Pius IX, beginning the longest reign in the history of the papacy.

1846 conclave

A conclave was held from 14 to 16 June 1846 to elect a new pope to succeed Gregory XVI, who had died in 1 June. Of the 62 eligible cardinal electors, all but twelve attended. On the fourth ballot, the conclave elected Cardinal Giovanni Mastai-Ferretti, the archbishop-bishop of…

Pope Pius IX

Head of the Catholic Church from 1846 to 1878

Pope Pius IX was head of the Catholic Church from 1846 to 1878. His reign of nearly 32 years is the longest verified of any pope in history; if including unverified reigns, his reign was second to that of Peter the Apostle. He was notable for convoking the First Vatican Council…