Three Popes and the Jews Three Popes and the Jews Three Popes and the Jews is a 1967 book by Pinchas Lapide, a former Israeli Consul to Milan, who at the time of publication was a deputy editor in the Israeli Prime Ministers press office. The "three popes" are Pope Pius XII (1939-1958), Pope John XXIII (1958-1963), and Pope Paul VI (1963-1978). "The Catholic Herald" in its review of the book observed, ""The intentions of Mr. Lapide, deputy editor of the Prime Minister's press office in Israel and a pioneer of inter-faith relations, are so excellent that the reviewer finds it embarrassing to point out
Year of three popes popes have held office in a given calendar year. Years in which the Roman Catholic Church was led by three different popes include: There was also a year in which the Roman Catholic Church was led by four popes, called the Year of Four Popes: Year of three popes A year of three popes is a common reference to a year when the College of Cardinals of the Catholic Church are required to elect two new popes within the same calendar year. Such a year generally occurs when a newly elected pope dies or resigns very early into his papacy.