Joshua Bennett
There have been many popes throughout history, with the first official records of popes dating back to the late 2nd century. The exact number of popes is a matter of some debate, with different sources providing different totals. The Annuario Pontificio, or Pontifical Yearbook, lists 267 popes, while other sources quote a number of 268, including Pope-elect Stephen II, who died before his consecration. However, only 265 or 266 men have held the office, as Benedict IX served three non-consecutive terms in the mid-11th century. The current pope, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, was elected on May 8, 2025, and is the first pope from the United States.
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What You'll Learn
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became Pope in 2025
On May 8, 2025, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. He is the first American to fill the role of Pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.
Born in Chicago in 1955 to parents of Spanish and Franco-Italian descent, Prevost served as an altar boy and was ordained in 1982. He moved to Peru three years later, where he spent his career ministering and teaching at a seminary in Trujillo in north-western Peru. He also obtained Peruvian nationality and is remembered for his work with marginalized communities.
Before becoming Pope, Prevost held several significant roles within the Catholic Church. He was brought to the Vatican in 2023 by Pope Francis, who appointed him to the powerful role of Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops. This role involved assessing bishop candidates and making recommendations for new appointments. Prevost also served as the president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and as the Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru. In addition, he was a member of the Augustinian Order.
As Pope, Leo XIV has emphasized a message of peace, dialogue, missionary evangelization, and building bridges. He has expressed support for environmental preservation and social justice, aligning with the legacy of his predecessor, Pope Francis. However, his views on LGBT rights are unclear, and he has made controversial statements regarding the role of women in the Church.
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There have been 267 popes, according to Annuario Pontificio
The Annuario Pontificio, or the Pontifical Yearbook, lists 267 people who have held the title of Pope. The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and the title is derived from the Latin word 'Papa', meaning 'Father'. The chronology of the early popes is heavily disputed, with the first ancient lists of popes being written in the late 2nd century, long after the episcopate had developed in Rome. These lists are a combination of contradictory traditions, and even the succession of the first popes is disputed. The first certain dates are AD 222 and 235, the elections of Urban I and Liberius.
Hermannus Contractus was possibly the first historian to number the popes continuously, and his list ends in 1049 with Leo IX as number 154. Over time, several changes have been made to the list. For instance, Christopher was considered a legitimate pope for a long time but was later removed due to the manner in which he obtained the papacy. Pope-elect Stephen was listed as Stephen II until the 1961 edition, when his name was removed.
The Annuario Pontificio includes Pope Stephen II in its count, which is why some sources quote the number of popes as 268. However, only 265 or 266 men have occupied the chair of Saint Peter, as Benedict IX held the office thrice in the mid-11th century. The current pope, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who goes by the name of Leo XIV, is the 267th pope. He is the first American pope and was elected after the death of Pope Francis on April 21.
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The first Pope dates back to AD 32-67
The number of Catholic popes alive today is one: Pope Francis. However, the history of the papacy goes back almost 2000 years.
The first pope is thought to have been St. Peter, who was entrusted with the office of the episcopate by the apostles Linus and Paul after they had established the Christian church in Rome. Peter is said to have been the first Bishop of Rome, and he died in around AD 67. However, the chronology of the early popes is heavily disputed. The first ancient lists of popes were not written until the late 2nd century, after the monarchical episcopate had already developed in Rome. These first lists combined contradictory traditions, and even the succession of the first popes is disputed. The first certain dates relating to the papacy are AD 222 and 235, the years of the elections of Urban I and Liberius.
The earliest reference to the episcopate of Linus was written by Irenaeus in around AD 180. Linus is mentioned in the Second Epistle to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:21) as being with Paul the Apostle in Rome towards the end of Paul's life. A tomb discovered in Saint Peter's Basilica in 1615 and inscribed with the letters "LINVS" was assumed to be the tomb of Pope Linus, but this was later questioned.
The term "pope" comes from the Latin "papa", meaning "father". It is used in several churches to denote their high spiritual leaders, for example, the Coptic pope. The Catholic pope uses various titles by tradition, including Summus Pontifex, Pontifex Maximus, and Servus servorum Dei.
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The first lists of popes were written in the 2nd century
As of my cut-off date of June 17, 2025, there is only one pope: Pope Francis. He is the 266th Pope and the current head of the Catholic Church.
The history of the papacy is a long and complex one, with the first lists of popes being compiled in the 2nd century. These early lists are not without their issues, with contradictions and disputes surrounding the succession of the first popes. The first certain dates we have for the election of popes are AD 222 and 235, with the elections of Urban I and Liberius, respectively.
The term "pope" comes from the Latin "papa," meaning "father," and is used to denote the high spiritual leader of the Catholic Church. Over time, the pope has accumulated various titles, such as Summus Pontifex, Pontifex Maximus, and Servus servorum Dei, each with its unique historical context and significance.
The chronology of the early popes is a challenging aspect of church history. The first lists combined contradictory traditions, and even today, the succession of the first popes is a matter of debate among scholars and historians. The work of Richard Adelbert Lipsius is often referenced regarding the years of the first 30 popes, though his dates differ by three years from those given by Eusebius of Caesarea, which are used by the Catholic Encyclopedia.
The Annuario Pontificio, published annually by the Roman Curia, has also introduced numerous corrections to the biographies of the popes, especially regarding dates, birthplaces, and family names during the first two centuries.
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Antipopes are shown in red in graphical lists
An antipope is a person who claims to be the Bishop of Rome and leader of the Roman Catholic Church in opposition to the officially elected pope. Antipapacy, or the existence of antipopes, still exists today, but all antipopeses are minor claimants without the support of any Cardinal. The period in which antipopes were most numerous was during the 11th and 12th centuries, when Holy Roman Emperors frequently imposed their own nominees. The Western Schism, which began in 1378, led to two competing lines of antipopes: the Avignon line and the Pisan line. The Pisan line was named after the town of Pisa, Italy, where the council had elected antipope Alexander V as a third claimant.
The list of popes and antipopes in the Annuario Pontificio is ambiguous about the status of some historical figures as popes or antipopes. For example, the Catholic Encyclopedia includes Sylvester III in its List of Popes, but with the annotation: "Considered by some to be an antipope". Pope Leo VIII is another such figure, with the Annuario Pontificio noting that it is "impossible to decide clearly" whether he or Pope Benedict V was the legitimate pope.
The first antipope is thought to be Hippolytus of Rome, who headed a separate group within the Church in Rome against Pope Callixtus I in the 3rd century. Other notable antipopes include John XVI, a monk of Greek descent who was antipope from 997 to 998, and Felix V, who was the last antipope, reigning from 1439 to 1449.
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Frequently asked questions
Only one pope is considered to be alive at any given time. As of May 8, 2025, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, OSA, was elected to become the first pope from the United States.
There have been 267 popes, according to the Annuario Pontificio (Pontifical Yearbook). However, some sources quote a number of 268, including Pope-elect Stephen II, who died before his episcopal consecration.
Out of the 267 popes, there have been 260 popes who were already bishops at the time of their election.
There have been several antipopes throughout history, including:
- Guibert ("Clement III")
- Theodoric
- Aleric
- Maginulf ("Sylvester IV")
- Burdin ("Gregory VIII")
- Anacletus II
- Gregory Conti ("Victor IV")
- Octavius ("Victor IV")
- Pascal III
- Callistus III
- Innocent III
- Robert of Geneva ("Clement VII")
- Pedro de Luna ("Benedict XIII")
- Baldassare Cossa ("John XXIII")
