4.10. Has the Church ever been without a pope before?

Yes. After the death of a pope, the Church often experiences an interregnum — a period without a pope — sometimes lasting months or years. This is normal.

However, the present vacancy is different. Sedevacantists hold that there has not been a true pope since Pius XII, because all subsequent claimants have fallen into public heresy. According to canon law and Catholic theology, a heretic cannot be validly elected or remain pope.