Sarah Mitchell
The Pope, or head of the Catholic Church, is believed by Roman Catholics to be the successor to Saint Peter, the first bishop of Rome. The chronology of the early popes is heavily disputed, with the first ancient lists of popes being written in the late 2nd century, after the monarchical episcopate had already 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. Since then, there have been 266 popes, with the majority (196) coming from Italy. The popes have had various titles, including Summus Pontifex, Pontifex Maximus, and Servus servorum Dei, and the history of the papacy has been influenced by numerous factors, including conflict with the Holy Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire, the East-West Schism, the Renaissance, and the Reformation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Title | Summus Pontifex, Pontifex Maximus, Servus servorum Dei |
| Line of Succession | St. Peter (32-67), St. Linus (67-76), St. Anacletus (Cletus) (76-88), ... |
| First Historian to Number the Popes | Hermannus Contractus |
| Current Pope | Robert Prevost |
| First US-born Pope | Robert Prevost |
| First Non-European Pope | Francis |
| First Pope to Resign in 600 Years | Benedict XVI |
| Pope with Shortest Term | Albino Luciani |
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What You'll Learn
Early popes
The pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and the position is said to span from the time of Saint Peter to the present day. The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus personally appointed Peter as the head of the Church, and the pope is considered Peter's successor.
The chronology of the early popes is heavily disputed. The first ancient lists of popes were written in the late 2nd century, after the monarchical episcopate had already developed in Rome. These lists combined contradictory traditions, and 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 years given for the first 30 popes follow the work of Richard Adelbert Lipsius, which show a 3-year difference with the dates given by Eusebius of Caesarea.
The earliest record of the use of the title 'pope' was in regard to the patriarch of Alexandria, Heraclas (232–248). In the early centuries of Christianity, the title was applied to all bishops and other senior clergy, especially in the East. Later, it became reserved for the bishop of Rome during the reign of Pope Leo I (440–461), although this reservation was only made official in the 11th century.
The first 30 popes, according to Lipsius, are as follows: St. Peter (32-67), St. Linus (67-76), St. Anacletus (Cletus) (76-88), St. Clement I (88-97), St. Evaristus (97-105), St. Alexander I (105-115), St. Sixtus I (115-125), St. Telesphorus (125-136), St. Hyginus (136-140), St. Pius I (140-155), St. Anicetus (155-166), St. Soter (166-175), St. Eleutherius (175-189), St. Victor I (189-199), St. Zephyrinus (199-217), St. Callistus I (217-222), St. Urban I (222-230), St. Pontian (230-235), and St. Anterus (235-236).
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Historical titles
The Pope, the head of the Catholic Church, has held various historical titles, including Summus Pontifex, Pontifex Maximus, and Servus servorum Dei. Each title has been added by unique historical events, and they are not static but subject to modification. Hermannus Contractus was perhaps the first historian to number the popes continuously. His list ends in 1049 with Leo IX as number 154, though several changes were made to the list during the 20th century. For example, Christopher was considered a legitimate pope for centuries until his name was removed in the 20th century due to the manner in which he obtained the papacy.
The chronology of the early popes is heavily disputed, with the first lists combining contradictory traditions and even the succession of the first popes being uncertain. The first certain dates are AD 222 and 235, the elections of Urban I and Liberius. The Catholic Encyclopedia uses the dates provided by Richard Adelbert Lipsius for the first 30 popes, which are three years earlier than the traditional dates given by Eusebius of Caesarea.
The Roman Pontiff, as the successor of Peter, is the perpetual and visible principle and foundation of unity for the bishops and the faithful. The first popes included St. Peter (32-67), St. Linus (67-76), St. Anacletus (Cletus) (76-88), and St. Clement I (88-97). Later popes included St. Gregory I (the Great) (590-604), St. Boniface IV (608-15), St. Deusdedit (Adeodatus I) (615-18), and St. Martin I (649-55).
In the 20th and 21st centuries, the popes have been:
- Pope Francis (2013 - present), the first non-European pope in over 1,200 years and the first from the Americas and the Society of Jesus.
- Pope Benedict XVI (2005-2013), the first pope to resign in 600 years.
- Pope John Paul II (1978-2005), the first non-Italian pope since the 16th century and the first Polish and Slavic pope.
- Pope John Paul I (1978, served 33 days).
- Pope Paul VI (1963-1978).
- Pope John XXIII (1958-1963).
- Pope Pius XII (1939-1958).
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Antipopes
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. Antipopes have no infallibility, papal authority, or jurisdiction. They are false claimants to the Holy See, and they arise in opposition to a pontiff who has been canonically elected. Antipopes are supported by factions within the Church and secular rulers.
The concept of the antipope has continued into modern times, with most current claimants being adherents to the Sedevacantist movement, a group of traditionalist Catholics who consider the liberal decisions made during the 1962-1965 Second Vatican Council to be heretical, thus rendering all subsequent popes illegitimate. However, the term "antipope" is rarely used to refer to modern claimants, likely due to their small followings and lack of influence in the mainstream Roman Catholic Church.
There have been several notable antipopes throughout history. Hippolytus of Rome (died 235) is commonly considered the earliest antipope, as he headed a separate group within the Church in Rome against Pope Callixtus I. Other examples of antipopes include Theodore and Paschal (687), Constantine II (767), Philip (VIII century), Anastasius (855), and Leo VIII (956-963).
In the modern era, there have been several claimants to the papacy who are considered antipopes. For example, in 2008, Alejandro Greico ("Alexander IX") was elected as the third pontiff of the Argentinian independent Catholic church called the Catholic Church of the Apostolic Remnant. While the church has an active online presence, its real-world existence has never been confirmed, leading some to view it as a hoax. Another example is Rogelio del Rosario Martinez ("Michael II"), a Filipino independent Catholic bishop who was elected pope by a small conclave in Vienna, Austria, in 2023.
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Pope Francis
Bergoglio was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to a family of Italian origin. In 1958, he was inspired to join the Jesuits after recovering from a severe illness. He was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1969 and, from 1973 to 1979, he served as the Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina. In 1992, Pope John Paul II appointed him as the titular Bishop of Auca and Auxiliary of Buenos Aires. He was then quickly appointed as the Episcopal Vicar of the Flores district and, in 1993, he also became the Vicar General of the Archdiocese. In 1997, he was raised to the dignity of Coadjutor Archbishop of Buenos Aires, and in 1998, he officially became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. He was created a cardinal in 2001 and, from 2005 to 2011, he served as the president of the Bishops' Conference of Argentina.
Several documentaries and biographical films have been created about Pope Francis, including "Pope Francis: A Man of His Word" (2018), "Francesco" (2020), and "The Two Popes" (2019), in which he was played by Jonathan Pryce. Pope Francis died on 21 April 2025, at the age of 88, and his funeral was held on 26 April 2025. He was buried at the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, breaking the tradition of popes being buried at the Vatican.
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Recent popes
The current pope, Pope Robert Prevost (2025 - present), is the first American-born pope and succeeds Pope Francis. Prevost was born in Chicago and has extensive missionary experience in Peru. Before becoming pope, he headed the Dicastery of Bishops at the Vatican, coordinating nominations for new bishops worldwide.
His predecessor, Pope Francis (2013-2025), was the first non-European pope in over 1200 years. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Italian immigrants, he was also the first pope from the Americas and the first from the Society of Jesus.
Pope Francis succeeded Pope Benedict XVI, who served from 1978 until his resignation in 2013. Benedict XVI, born Josef Alois Ratzinger in Germany, was the first pope in 600 years to resign, citing age-related reasons.
Pope Benedict XVI succeeded Pope John Paul II, who served from 1978 until 2005. John Paul II, born Karol Józef Wojtyła in Poland, was the first non-Italian pope since Adrian VI in 1522 and the first Slavic pope.
John Paul II was elected after the death of Pope John Paul I, who served for only 33 days in 1978. John Paul I, born Albino Luciani in Italy, had one of the shortest terms of any pope.
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Frequently asked questions
The line of Catholic popes refers to the succession of bishops of Rome, who are the head of the Catholic Church.
The first pope is believed to be St. Peter, who served from 32-67 AD.
The pope is elected by a conclave of cardinals, who gather in the Sistine Chapel to cast their votes.
An antipope is someone who claims the papacy without being properly elected. Antipopes usually emerge due to doctrinal controversies or disputes over the legitimate pope.
The current pope, elected on May 8, 2025, is Leo XIV.
