how many popes

There have been about 267 popes in the history of the Roman Catholic Church, depending on how you count one disputed case (Pope-elect Stephen II).

Quick Scoop: How many popes?

• The commonly cited total today is 267 popes , from St. Peter up to the current Pope.

• The Vatican-linked lists sometimes differ by one because of Stephen II (752) , who died after election but before consecration; some lists count him, others do not.

• Older or popular media pieces you might see online may still mention 266 popes , because they stop with Pope Francis and predate the most recent papacy.

Why the numbers vary

• Key issue: whether someone who was elected but never formally consecrated as bishop of Rome counts as a “pope” in the official line.

• Some lists:
  • 267 popes including the current pope and excluding Stephen II.

* 268 if they include Stephen II.

• There are also antipopes (rival claimants during schisms) who are not counted in the official total.

One-sentence takeaway

If you just want a straightforward answer for today: people usually say “around 267 popes in total,” with the slight variation coming from how historians handle one disputed 8th‑century pope‑elect.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.