Michael Brooks
The Catholic Church has had a long and complex history, with the pope as its head. The pope uses various titles, such as Summus Pontifex, Pontifex Maximus, and Servus servorum Dei, each added at different times throughout history. The exact number of popes is a matter of debate due to the complex history of the Catholic Church, with different sources providing different numbers. As of 2025, there have been at least 266 popes in the Catholic Church, with the apostle St. Peter being widely recognized as the first. The most recent pope, Pope Francis, who passed away in 2025, was the 266th pope and the first Latin American pope in the Church's history.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholic Popes | 266 or 267 |
| First Pope | St. Peter |
| First Century Dates Available | AD 222 and 235 |
| Number of Saints | 48 out of the first 50 |
| Number of Martyrs | 28 out of the first 31 |
| Number of Popes in Oriental Orthodox Churches | 6 |
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What You'll Learn
The first pope was St. Peter
The Catholic Church recognizes St. Peter as the first pope. Peter was one of Jesus's original 12 disciples and is viewed as the "father" of the Catholic Church.
Peter travelled to Rome, the centre of the Roman Empire, to spread Christianity. He is believed to have arrived in Rome sometime between 30 AD and 70 AD, and his tenure as pope is estimated to have lasted from 32 AD to 67 AD. However, the exact dates of his papacy and his birth and death are unknown, as there are few records from that era.
The idea that Peter was the first pope is central to Roman Catholic tradition. Some sources, including the New Testament, dispute this claim, arguing that there is little evidence to support it. For instance, Paul's Letter to the Romans, written around 56 AD, mentions 27 individuals by name but does not refer to Peter, suggesting that he was not in Rome at the time. Additionally, Peter never refers to himself as the "Vicar of Christ" or the bishop of Rome in his writings, and he does not claim any special authority or power over other apostles.
Despite these conflicting views, the Catholic Church maintains that Peter was the first pope, and his role in the early spread of Christianity is widely recognized.
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There have been 266 popes
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 are AD 222 and 235, the elections of Urban I and Liberius.
The Annuario Pontificio, published every year by the Roman Curia, no longer identifies popes by regnal number, stating that it is impossible to decide which pope represented the legitimate succession at various times. The Catholic Encyclopedia, on the other hand, provides a chronological list of popes, excluding those that are explicitly indicated as antipopes.
Many popes have been recognized as saints, including 48 out of the first 50 consecutive popes, and others are in the sainthood process.
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The current pope is Pope Francis
Pope Francis was elected by a papal conclave on 13 March 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. He chose the name Francis in honour of St. Francis of Assisi, who lived a life of humble service to the poor, and also in honour of St. Francis Xavier, a founding member of the Jesuits. Pope Francis has been noted for his openness to different perspectives on Catholic doctrine, particularly regarding social issues and sexual ethics. He has also been recognised for his significant achievements, including issuing the papal encyclical Laudato si' in 2015, addressing the climate crisis and promoting unity among different faiths.
In international diplomacy, Pope Francis has played a role in restoring diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States, negotiating a deal with the People's Republic of China on the appointment of Chinese bishops, and encouraging peace between Israel and Palestine. He has also made historic apologies, including for the Church's role in the cultural genocide of Canadian Indigenous peoples in residential schools.
Pope Francis has brought a less formal style to the papacy, with news coverage noting his "common touch and accessibility". For example, on the night of his election, he chose to take a bus back to his hotel with the cardinals rather than be driven in the papal car. Pope Francis has also been praised for his humility and his commitment to helping those in need. He worked to help people flee Argentina during the rule of the junta, and he once gave his identity papers to a man who looked like him so that the man could escape the country.
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Pope Francis is the first Latin American pope
There have been hundreds of Catholic popes throughout history, with the first ancient lists of popes being written in the late 2nd century. The chronology of the early popes is heavily disputed, and the first certain dates are AD 222 and 235, the elections of Urban I and Liberius.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on 17 December 1936, was the first Latin American pope. He was elected on 13 March 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. Pope Francis was also the first Jesuit pope, and the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere. Although he was not born in Europe, he was ethnically European, with his father and maternal grandparents originating from northern Italy.
Pope Francis was known for his humble style and concern for the poor, which charmed the world. However, his critiques of capitalism and climate change alienated conservatives. Fluent in Italian, German, and his native Spanish, he also spoke Latin, French, Portuguese, and English, and understood Piedmontese and some Genoese Ligurian.
Pope Francis was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until his death on 21 April 2025, at the age of 88. He was the first pope since Pope Pius X to live outside the papal apartments, choosing to reside in the Vatican guest house.
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Some popes are recognised as saints
There have been 265 to 266 popes throughout history, and a significant number of them have been recognised as saints. In fact, 80 to 83 out of the 265 to 266 deceased popes have been recognised as saints, including 48 out of the first 50 consecutive popes. All of the first 35 popes are saints, and 52 of the first 54 were canonised.
The first 300 years of Christianity were a time of martyrs, and it simply wasn't safe to be a Christian in the Roman Empire. Of the first 31 popes, 28 died as martyrs. Every pope in the first five centuries was canonised, except Liberius (AD 352-366). Only eight popes prior to 600 missed the canonisation train: Anastasius II (496-498), John II (533-535), Boniface II (530-532), Vigilius (537-555), Pelagius I (556-561), John III (561-574), Benedict I (575-579), and Pelagius II (579-590).
Some 20th-century popes who are recognised as saints include Pius X, Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I, and John Paul II. There are also ten beati (Blesseds), two Venerables, and three Servants of God, bringing the total number of popes recognised for their holiness to 95.
Some notable saintly popes include St. Peter, St. Linus, St. Clement I, St. Gregory VII, St. Celestine V, St. Fabian, St. Cornelius, St. Lucius I, St. Stephen I, St. Sixtus II, St. Dionysius, St. Caius, St. Marcellinus, St. Sylvester I, St. Julius I, St. Damasus, St. Siricius, St. Innocent I, St. Boniface I, St. Celestine I, St. Leo I, St. Francis Borgia, and many others.
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Frequently asked questions
There have been 266 popes in the Catholic Church, starting with St. Peter in 30 AD and ending with Pope Francis, who was elected in 2013.
The apostle St. Peter is widely recognized as the first pope. He served from 30 AD until his death sometime between 64 and 68 AD.
A significant number of popes have been recognized as saints, including 48 out of the first 50 consecutive popes. Others are in the process of being recognized as saints.
There is currently one pope in the Catholic Church, Pope Francis. However, there are 6 popes in the Oriental Orthodox Churches.
