ðə suːpˈiəɹɪɚzdʒˈɛnɚɹəl wɜːɹ æt fˈɜːst ᵻlˈɛktᵻd fɔːɹ lˈaɪf, bˌʌt ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd fˈoːɹhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti fˈoːɹ pˈoʊp sˈɪkstəs ɹˌoʊmən fˈoːɹ kˈɔːzd ðˌɛm təbi vˈoʊɾᵻd fɔːɹ ˈɛvɹi θɹˈiː jˈɪɹz.
The superiors-general were at first elected for life, but in 1474 Pope Sixtus IV caused them to be voted for every three years.