Michael Brooks
The Pope, meaning Father or Papa in Latin, is a title generally used to refer to the supreme head of the Catholic Church. There have been 266 popes, according to the Vatican, starting with St. Peter, who was one of Jesus' apostles and is considered the first and longest-serving pope. The current pope, Pope Francis, is the 266th pope and assumed the papacy in 2013. The number of popes can vary depending on the inclusion of individuals such as Stephen II, who died after being elected but before consecration, and Benedict IX, who held office three times in the 11th century.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholic Popes | 265, 266, 267 or 268 |
| First Pope | St. Peter |
| Current Pope | Pope Francis |
| Pope who lived in the Vatican Palace | Pope Francis |
| Oldest Pope | Pope Leo XIII |
| First American Pope | Cardinal Robert Prevost |
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What You'll Learn
There have been 266 or 267 popes, according to different sources
The pope is the supreme head of the Catholic Church and of the Holy See. The pope, as the bishop of Rome, leads the central government of the Catholic Church, making decisions on faith and morality for the world's 1.3 billion Catholics. The title "pope" has been used officially by the head of the Church since the tenure of Pope Siricius.
Only 265 (or 266) men have occupied the chair of Saint Peter, as Benedict IX held the office thrice on separate occasions in the mid-11th century. Saint Peter is widely considered the first pope and the longest-serving pope in history. The current pope, Pope Francis, is the 266th pope, according to the Vatican, and he assumed the papacy in 2013. He followed Pope Benedict XVI, who led the Church from 2005 until his resignation in 2013, and Pope John Paul II, who served from 1978 until his death in 2005.
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St. Peter was the first pope
There have been 266 or 267 popes in the Catholic Church, according to different sources. The first pope, according to some, was St. Peter, one of Jesus' apostles. However, this claim is disputed by some, who argue that there is little evidence to support this assertion.
St. Peter, whose original name was Simon, is considered by Catholics to be the first pope because of the significance of his name change by Jesus. In Greek, "Petros" means "rock", and Jesus' statement, "On this rock I will build my church", implies that Peter would be a foundational figure in the early Christian church.
Some traditions connect St. Peter with the Roman church, and he is recognised by the Catholic Church as the first Bishop of Rome (pope), followed by Linus, Anacletus, Clement of Rome, Evaristus, Alexander, Sixtus, Telesphorus, Hyginus, Pius, Anicetus, Soter, and Eleutherius. Pope Clement I, in his Letter to the Corinthians, speaks of Peter's martyrdom, referring to him as "the greatest and most just pillar of the Church".
However, there is no mention of Peter in Rome in the New Testament or in 1 Clement, and no first-century documentary evidence supports the claim that he was the Bishop of Rome. Peter himself never claims any special role, authority, or power over the body of Christ, and his self-description is simply "an apostle of Jesus Christ".
While the debate over whether St. Peter was the first pope continues, with eminent scholars on both sides, the answer remains uncertain, with some traditions and evidence supporting the claim and other interpretations and evidence contradicting it.
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Popes are considered successors of St. Peter
The Pope, the supreme head of the Catholic Church, is considered the successor of St. Peter, who was one of Jesus' apostles. St. Peter is widely regarded as the first Pope and the longest-serving Pope in the history of the Church.
The belief that the Pope is the successor of St. Peter is based on several sources and interpretations. One source is the Bible, specifically Matthew 16:18, where Jesus says to Peter, "You are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my congregation." This passage is interpreted as Jesus establishing Peter as the foundation of the Catholic Church. The phrase "on this rock" is believed to refer to Peter, as the word "Peter" means "rock" in Greek. This interpretation is supported by early Christian writers, such as Augustine, who held that the congregation was built on Peter.
Additionally, the Catholic Church asserts that "Christ established that Peter should have perpetual successors in this primacy, and that the Roman bishops are these successors." This belief is further supported by the writings of early Church Fathers, who recognized Peter as the rock on which Jesus declared he would build his Church. They also acknowledged that Peter travelled to Rome, where he was martyred, and that the bishop of Rome—the Pope—continued to serve in Peter's role in subsequent generations of the Church.
However, there are differing opinions on whether the Pope is indeed the successor of St. Peter. Some argue that the Bible and historical evidence do not support this claim. For instance, the apostle John, who wrote several letters and the book of Revelation, does not mention that the congregation in Rome was the most prominent one or refer to a leader of the church as the successor of Peter. Furthermore, Peter's teachings and conduct may not align with those expected of someone claiming to be his successor. For example, Peter refused any special expressions of reverence, whereas the Pope, as the Vicar of Christ, holds a position of high authority.
Despite these differing interpretations, the Pope is traditionally viewed as the successor of St. Peter, and this belief holds significant importance within the Catholic Church.
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Pope Francis was the first Latin American pope
There have been 266 or 267 popes in the Catholic Church, starting with St. Peter and ending, most recently, with Pope Francis. Pope Francis, born Cardinal Bergoglio of Argentina, was the first Latin American pope. He was elected in 2013 and was the first pope from the Americas or the Southern Hemisphere. He was also the first Jesuit to be elected to the throne of St. Peter.
Francis was already in his seventies when he became pope. He was known for his unorthodox background, which many hoped would help to rejuvenate the Vatican. Indeed, he did much to change the Catholic Church. For example, he took part in an anti-abortion march in Rome, calling for the rights of the unborn "from the moment of conception". He also resisted the ordination of women and praised the teachings of Pope Paul VI on contraception, which warned that it might reduce women to instruments of male satisfaction.
Pope Francis also showed moral leadership during the COVID pandemic, declaring that being vaccinated was a universal obligation. In addition, he appointed nearly 80% of the cardinal electors who will choose the next pope, increasing the possibility that his successor will continue his progressive policies.
Pope Francis died on a Monday in April 2025, aged 88, after suffering a stroke and cardiac arrest.
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The pope is the supreme leader of the Catholic Church
The pope makes decisions on issues of faith and morality for Catholics worldwide, a population of about 1.3 billion. The pope's title, "Papa," is Latin for "father." It has been used officially by the head of the Church since Pope Siricius. There have been 266 or 267 popes, according to the Annuario Pontificio (Pontifical Yearbook), with the first being St. Peter, who served from 30 AD until his death sometime between 64 and 68 AD.
The pope traditionally resides in the Vatican Palace in Vatican City, an ecclesiastical state surrounded by Rome. Pope Francis, who served from 2013 until his death in 2025, broke from this tradition by living in a two-room apartment in the Domus Sanctae Marthae.
The role of the pope evolved in the 20th century with changes to church teaching on the role of bishops. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) maintained the pope's authority while emphasizing the importance of the bishops as a single collegial body.
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Frequently asked questions
There have been 267 popes, according to the Annuario Pontificio (Pontifical Yearbook). However, some sources quote a number of 268, with the inclusion of Stephen II, who died four days after his election but before his episcopal consecration.
St. Peter (32-67) is widely considered to be the first pope and the longest-serving pope in the history of the church.
A significant number of popes have been recognised as saints, including 48 out of the first 50 consecutive popes.
