Rome

Bishop of Rome (Pope) · c. 42 by tradition (Peter's arrival; his martyrdom c. 64–67)

The see of Peter and Paul, where both apostles bore their final witness under Nero. Its bishops' list runs unbroken from Linus, and by this era's end the church of Rome had become the touchstone of communion for the whole West. Within this dataset the line runs from Peter to Leo IX (†1054), whose legates carried the bull of 1054 to Constantinople.

Continues today as the papacy of the Catholic Church — the longest continuously documented succession in this dataset.

The bishops

153 holders in the record.

Of the 152 links in this chain, 145 rest on a recorded succession; 4 are inferred from the numbering — the register numbers the two holders consecutively and no source says one followed the other; 3 are named by no register at all: nothing joins those two rows. Each holder below says which it is.

Saint Peter #1 · 33–67 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Pope Linus #2 · 67–79 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Anacletus #3 · 70s–92 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Clement of Rome #4 · 88–99 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Evaristus #5 · 90s–105 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Alexander I #6 · 100s–110s · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Sixtus I #7 · 110s–120s · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Telesphorus #8 · 120s–130s · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Hyginus #9 · 138–140 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Pius I #10 · 140–154 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Anicetus #11 · 150s–160s · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Soter #12 · 20 Apr 168–174 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Eleuterus #13 · 175–189 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Victor I #14 · 189–199 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Zephyrinus #15 · 199–20 Dec 217 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Callixtus I #16 · 218–222 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Urban I #17 · 222–23 May 230 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Pontian #18 · 21 Jul 230–28 Sep 235 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Anterus #19 · 21 Nov 235–3 Jan 236 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Fabian #20 · 10 Jan 236–20 Jan 250 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Cornelius #21 · Mar 251–Jun 253 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Lucius I #22 · 25 Jun 253–5 Mar 254 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Stephen I #23 · 12 May 254–2 Aug 257 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Sixtus II #24 · 31 Aug 257–6 Aug 258 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Dionysius #25 · 22 Jul 259–26 Dec 268 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Felix I #26 · 5 Jan 269–30 Dec 274 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Eutychian #27 · 4 Jan 275–7 Dec 283 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Caius #28 · 17 Dec 283–22 Apr 296 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Marcellinus #29 · 30 Jun 296–2 Apr 304 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Marcellus I #30 · 308–16 Jan 309 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Eusebius #31 · 18 Apr 309–17 Aug 309 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Miltiades #32 · 2 Jul 311–10 Jan 314 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Sylvester I #33 · 31 Jan 314–31 Dec 335 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Mark #34 · 19 Jan 336–7 Oct 336 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Julius I #35 · 7 Feb 337–12 Apr 352 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Liberius #36 · 17 May 352–24 Sep 366 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Damasus I #37 · 1 Oct 366–11 Dec 384 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Siricius #38 · Dec 384–26 Nov 399 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Anastasius I #39 · 27 Nov 399–19 Dec 401 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Innocent I #40 · 402–12 Mar 417 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Zosimus #41 · 19 Mar 417–27 Dec 418 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Boniface I #42 · 29 Dec 418–4 Sep 422 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Celestine I #43 · 11 Sep 422–26 Jul 432 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Sixtus III #44 · 1 Aug 432–18 Aug 440 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Leo I #45 · 29 Sep 440–10 Nov 461 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Hilarius #46 · 20 Nov 461–28 Feb 468 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Simplicius #47 · 3 Mar 468–10 Mar 483 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Felix III #48 · 14 Mar 483–3 Jan 492 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Gelasius I #49 · 2 Mar 492–19 Nov 496 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Anastasius II #50 · 25 Nov 496–16 Nov 498 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Symmachus #51 · 23 Nov 498–19 Jul 514 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Hormisdas #52 · 22 Jul 514–6 Aug 523 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
John I #53 · 15 Aug 523–18 May 526 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Felix IV #54 · 15 Jul 526–22 Sep 530 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Boniface II #55 · 22 Sep 530–17 Oct 532 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
John II #56 · 4 Jan 533–8 May 535 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Agapetus I #57 · 15 May 535–22 Apr 536 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Silverius #58 · 10 Jun 536–Mar 537 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Vigilius #59 · 31 Mar 537–7 Jun 555 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Pelagius I #60 · 556–3 Mar 561 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
John III #61 · 19 Jul 561–13 Jul 574 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Benedict I #62 · 4 Jun 575–30 Jul 579 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Pelagius II #63 · 28 Nov 579–7 Feb 590 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Gregory I #64 · 3 Sep 590–12 Mar 604 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Sabinian #65 · 16 Sep 604–22 Feb 606 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Boniface III #66 · 22 Feb 607–12 Nov 607 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Boniface IV #67 · 28 Sep 608–8 May 615 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Adeodatus I #68 · 16 Nov 615–8 Nov 618 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Boniface V #69 · 26 Dec 619–25 Oct 625 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Honorius I #70 · 30 Oct 625–12 Oct 638 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Severinus #71 · 31 May 640–2 Aug 640 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
John IV #72 · 27 Dec 640–12 Oct 642 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Theodore I #73 · 27 Nov 642–14 May 649 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Martin I #74 · 24 Jul 649–16 Sep 655 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Eugene I #75 · 656–1 Jun 657 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Vitalian #76 · 2 Aug 657–27 Jan 672 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Adeodatus II #77 · 11 Apr 672–16 Jun 676 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Donus #78 · 5 Nov 676–11 Apr 678 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Agatho #79 · 30 Jun 678–10 Jan 681 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Leo II #80 · 20 Aug 682–28 Jun 683 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Benedict II #81 · 29 Jun 684–8 May 685 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
John V #82 · 23 Jul 685–2 Aug 686 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Conon #83 · 24 Oct 686–21 Sep 687 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Sergius I #84 · 18 Dec 687–8 Sep 701 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
John VI #85 · 30 Oct 701–11 Jan 705 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
John VII #86 · 5 Mar 705–18 Oct 707 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Sisinnius #87 · 19 Jan 708–4 Feb 708 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Constantine #88 · 25 Mar 708–9 Apr 715 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Gregory II #89 · 23 May 715–11 Feb 731 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Gregory III #90 · 15 Feb 731–28 Nov 741 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Zachary #91 · 14 Dec 741–15 Mar 752 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Stephen II #92 · 30 Mar 752–26 Apr 757 · link inferred · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Paul I #93 · 2 Jun 757–28 Jun 767 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Stephen III #94 · 11 Aug 768–1 Feb 772 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Adrian I #95 · 5 Feb 772–25 Dec 795 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Leo III #96 · 31 Dec 795–12 Jun 816 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Stephen IV #97 · 26 Jun 816–24 Jan 817 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Paschal I #98 · 29 Jan 817–11 Feb 824 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Eugene II #99 · 15 May 824–27 Aug 827 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Valentine #100 · 4 Sep 827–10 Oct 827 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Gregory IV #101 · Oct 827–25 Jan 844 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Sergius II #102 · Jan 844–24 Jan 847 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Leo IV #103 · 27 Jan 847–17 Jul 855 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Benedict III #104 · 3 Oct 855–17 Apr 858 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Nicholas I #105 · 28 Apr 858–13 Nov 867 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Adrian II #106 · 18 Dec 867–14 Dec 872 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
John VIII #107 · 17 Dec 872–16 Dec 882 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Marinus I #108 · 20 Dec 882–15 May 884 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Adrian III #109 · 21 May 884–8 Jul 885 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Stephen V #110 · Sep 885–14 Sep 891 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Formosus #111 · 10 Oct 891–4 Apr 896 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Boniface VI #112 · 11 Apr 896–26 Apr 896 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Stephen VI #113 · 26 May 896–14 Aug 897 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Romanus #114 · Aug 897–Nov 897 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Theodore II #115 · Dec 897–20 Dec 897 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
John IX #116 · 18 Jan 898–5 Jan 900 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Benedict IV #117 · 5 Feb 900–Jul 903 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Leo V #118 · Jul 903–Feb 904 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Sergius III #119 · 3 Feb 904–14 Apr 911 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Anastasius III #120 · Apr 911–Jun 913 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Lando #121 · Jul 913–Jan 914 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
John X #122 · Mar 914–May 928 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Leo VI #123 · Jun 928–Dec 928 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Stephen VII #124 · Feb 929–15 Mar 931 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
John XI #125 · Mar 931–Dec 935 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Leo VII #126 · 8 Jan 936–13 Jul 939 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Stephen VIII #127 · 19 Jul 939–Oct 942 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Marinus II #128 · 4 Nov 942–May 946 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Agapetus II #129 · 15 May 946–8 Nov 955 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
John XII #130 · 16 Dec 955–14 May 964 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Leo VIII #131 · 23 Jun 964–1 Mar 965 · link inferred · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Benedict V #132 · 27 May 964–23 Jun 964 · link inferred · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
John XIII #133 · 6 Oct 965–6 Sep 972 · link inferred · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Benedict VI #134 · 24 Jan 973–Jun 974 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Benedict VII #135 · Oct 974–10 Jul 983 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
John XIV #136 · Nov 983–20 Aug 984 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
John XV #137 · Aug 985–Mar 996 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Gregory V #138 · 8 May 996–18 Feb 999 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Sylvester II #139 · 7 Apr 999–12 May 1003 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
John XVII #140 · 22 May 1003–6 Dec 1003 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
John XVIII #141 · 25 Dec 1003–18 Jul 1009 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Sergius IV #142 · 6 Aug 1009–12 May 1012 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Benedict VIII #143 · 24 May 1012–9 Apr 1024 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
John XIX #144 · 19 Apr 1024–9 Oct 1032 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Benedict IX #145 · Oct 1032–Sep 1044 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Sylvester III #146 · 20 Jan 1045–10 Mar 1045 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545 · bishops in between are missing
Gregory VI #148 · 11 May 1045–26 Dec 1046 · link unrecorded · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Clement II #149 · 31 Dec 1046–Oct 1047 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545 · bishops in between are missing
Damasus II #151 · 23 Jul 1048–9 Aug 1048 · link unrecorded · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Leo IX #152 · 18 Feb 1049–19 Apr 1054 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Victor II #153 · 19 Apr 1055–28 Jul 1057 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545
Stephen IX #154 · 9 Aug 1057–29 Mar 1058 · № Wikidata, series ordinal P1545 · the numbering ends here; what follows holds no place in the list
Pope-elect Stephen 23 Mar 752–26 Mar 752 · link unrecorded · № named by no register

Glosses

Because it is New Rome Constantinople was not an apostolic see. It had no founder among the Twelve, no martyr's grave, and a bishop who in 325 answered to Heraclea. Canon 3 of the council of 381 gave it the primacy of honour after Rome…
Ecumenical in the West only Two councils met at Constantinople over Photius, in 869 and again in 879, and they reached opposite conclusions. Rome counts the first as the eighth ecumenical council; the East counts the second as a council that…
Whether Ignatius argues or describes Ignatius writes to six churches about 110 and tells each of them to do nothing without the bishop. Whether that is evidence of a new thing or of an old one is the oldest live argument about the shape of the early…

Show all 8

Presbyter and bishop In the New Testament and in Clement's letter to Corinth the two words name one office: presbyteros and episkopos are used of the same men in the same paragraph. A single bishop standing over a college of presbyters is…
The five sees Justinian's law speaks of five patriarchates — Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem — in that order, and the arrangement is called the pentarchy. It was never quite the fact it was legislated as…
The years before the list Every early bishop of Rome on this site carries a span - Linus 67 to 79, Anacletus 79 to 92 - and those numbers are younger than the men. The Liber Pontificalis gives each of them a reign to the day, so many years, so…
What Hegesippus made at Rome One word in one sentence decides whether the earliest list of the bishops of Rome was written in the second century or not, and the word is the one this project is named after. Eusebius quotes Hegesippus saying that…
Who followed Peter at Rome The earliest list is Irenaeus, writing about 180 and quoted by Eusebius: Linus first after the apostles, then Anencletus, then Clement. Later Western tradition splits Anencletus into two men, Cletus and Anacletus, and…

Events

Peter's escape from prison 44
Mark writes down Peter's preaching 45
Council of Jerusalem 49
Neronian persecution 64
Martyrdom of Peter 64
Martyrdom of Paul 64
Domitianic persecution 89
Clement writes to Corinth 96
The martyrdom of Clement at Chersonesus 99
The martyrdom of Ignatius in the amphitheatre 108
Marcion is expelled at Rome 144
Hermas writes the Shepherd at Rome 145
Polycarp and Anicetus at Rome 155
The martyrdom of Justin 165
Tatian leaves the church for the Encratites 172
The martyrs of Lyons and Vienne 177
Irenaeus writes to Victor about the Pascha 190
The Roman schism of Hippolytus begins 217
The martyrdom of Cecilia 230
Persecution under Maximinus Thrax 235
Decian persecution 250
The Novatianist schism begins 251
Cyprian and Stephen quarrel over rebaptism 256
Valerianic persecution 257
The martyrdom of Lawrence 258
Edict of Gallienus 260
The martyrdom of Sebastian 287
The martyrdom of Agnes 304
Sack of Rome by Alaric 410
Council of Chalcedon 451
Acacian Schism 484
Second Council of Constantinople 553
The Gregorian mission lands in Kent 597
Lateran Council of 649 649
Third Council of Constantinople 681
Council of Clovesho 747
Donation of Pepin 756
Coronation of Charlemagne 800
Photian Schism 863
Council of Constantinople (Photian) 879
Cadaver Synod 897
Synod of Rome of 963 963
The Great Schism 1054

Texts

Apostolic Decree c. 49
First Epistle of Peter c. 62–64
First Epistle of Clement c. 96
Second Epistle of Peter c. 100–125 (attributed)
Letter of the Churches of Lyons and Vienne 177
Rescript of Gallienus 260
The City of God 413–426
Tome of Leo 449
Canons of Chalcedon 451
Chalcedonian Definition 451
Henotikon of Zeno 482
Fourteen Anathemas against the Three Chapters 553
Pastoral Rule 590
The Libellus responsionum 601
Letter to Mellitus 18 July 601
Canons of the Lateran council 649
Definition against Monotheletism 680–681
Ecclesiastical History of the English People 731
Acts of the Photian council 879–880
Sentence against Formosus 897
Synodal edict of Michael Cerularius 24 July 1054
Bull of excommunication 16 July 1054

Feasts

The Chair of Saint Peter 22 February
Gregory the Great 3 September
The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica 9 November
Saints Peter and Paul 29 June

the communion today