Year of three 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. This results in the Catholic Church being led by three different popes during the same calendar year. The most recent instance of a year of three popes occurred in 1978. The three popes involved were: There have been several instances in which three or more
I Saw Three Ships of Nine Lessons and Carols in recent years. This carol is also featured in the musical "Caroline, or Change", but as a counterpoint. Adapted by Jon Schmidt on "Jon Schmidt Christmas" album. John Renbourn has arranged it (in a rather free adaptation) for guitar. The song appears on Nat King Cole's 1960 album "The Magic of Christmas" (l/k/a "The Christmas Song"), arranged by Ralph Carmichael. I Saw Three Ships "I Saw Three Ships (Come Sailing In)" is a traditional and popular Christmas carol from England. The earliest printed version of "I Saw Three Ships" is from the 17th century, possibly