VATICAN CITY, MARCH 14, 2004 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II's pontificate became the third longest in the history of the Church, after that of St. Peter and Pius IX.  As of today, John Paul II has been Pope for 25 years, 4 months, and 18 days (a total of 9,281 days), surpassing Leo XIII's time as Bishop of Rome (1878-1903).

Historians of the Holy See say the longest pontificate, St. Peter's, lasted 34 or 37 years. The apostle was bishop first in Antioch and later, for a quarter of a century, in Rome.  He is followed by Pius IX, who was on the throne of St. Peter for over 30 years, from June 1846 to February 1878.

Cardinal Karol Wojtyla of Krakow was elected Pope on Oct. 16, 1978. At 58, he was the youngest Pontiff of the century and the first non-Italian since the Dutch Adrian VI (1522).