Verified answer

46 years.

Paul IV (1555-59)

Paul V (1605-21)

The Pope does not rent his successor. somebody does not rent yet another individual as Pope. Paul would have ordained Linus, yet that ordination did not make Linus a Pope. a individual would nicely be ordained as a clergyman and get carry of the sacrament of holy orders in basic terms and not be Pope. This looks like what you're touching on approximately Paul and Linus.