Saint Peter is recognized as the first pope.
According to Catholic tradition, he was appointed by Jesus Christ himself, establishing the foundation for the papacy that continues today.

Catholic Tradition

The Catholic Church traces its papal lineage directly to Saint Peter, one of Jesus's twelve apostles. Originally named Simon, Jesus renamed him Peter (from the Aramaic "Cephas," meaning "rock") and declared, "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). Peter traveled to Rome around 30-70 AD, becoming the bishop there and leading early Christians amid Roman persecution. He was martyred under Emperor Nero in the 60s AD, crucified upside down at his request, and is buried beneath St. Peter's Basilica.

Historical Context

Early records are sparse, but Peter's leadership in Rome solidified by the late 1st century. Emperor Constantine's conversion in the 4th century elevated the Roman bishop's role, making Christianity the empire's official religion and empowering the pope politically. By the 5th century, Rome was Christianity's central hub, with the Annuario Pontificio listing Peter as the first in its official chronology.

Differing Viewpoints

Not all Christians agree. Protestant sources, like GotQuestions.org, argue the Bible doesn't depict Peter as supreme over other apostles or explicitly name him Rome's first bishop—no New Testament mention of "pope" exists. They question apostolic succession, seeing Peter as "first among equals" rather than a monarchial founder. Orthodox traditions honor Peter but don't grant Rome exclusive primacy.

Key Early Popes

Here's a table of the first few popes per Catholic lists, with approximate reigns:

Pope| Reign (AD)| Notes
---|---|---
St. Peter| c. 30–67| Apostle; martyred in Rome 18
St. Linus| 67–76| Mentioned by Paul (2 Timothy 4:21) 9
St. Anacletus (Cletus)| 76–88| Early successor 9
St. Clement I| 88–97| Authored letter to Corinthians 9
St. Evaristus| 97–105| Strengthened church structure 9

These lists vary slightly across sources, but Peter universally heads Catholic ones.

Modern Relevance

As of February 2026, Pope Francis (2013–present) upholds this 2,000-year chain from Peter. No recent "trending" debates shift this core fact—online forums echo longstanding Catholic-Protestant divides without new evidence. Historians affirm Peter's foundational role, even if the "pope" title formalized later.

TL;DR: Saint Peter was the first pope per Catholic doctrine, leading from Rome in the 1st century; Protestants debate his primacy.

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