Popes Through History
Click on headings to expand them, or links to go to specific articles.
Irenaeus commended the Church at Rome for their Apostolic succession, which is an unbroken line of Bishops in the Churches since the apostles. Irenaeus, who was only the third from the Apostles (through Polycarp to John), wrote:
- Since, however, it would be very tedious, in such a volume as this, to reckon up the successions of all the Churches, we do put to confusion all those who, in whatever manner, whether by an evil self-pleasing, by vainglory, or by blindness and perverse opinion, assemble in unauthorized meetings; [we do this, I say,] by indicating that tradition derived from the apostles, of the very great, the very ancient, and universally known Church founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul; as also [by pointing out] the faith preached to men, which comes down to our time by means of the successions of the bishops. For it is a matter of necessity that every Church should agree with this Church, on account of its pre- eminent authority,(3) that is, the faithful every-where, inasmuch as the apostolical tradition has been preserved continuously by those faithful men who exist everywhere.
Another translation of the last statement of this is:
- "On account of the chief magistracy [of the empire], the faithful from all parts, representing every Church, are obliged to resort to Rome, and there to come together; so that [it is the distinction of this Church that], in it, the tradition of the apostles has been preserved by Christians gathered together out of all the Churches."
Despite this apostolic succession, which Irenaeus reckoned was present in most churches, Irenaeus himself traveled to Rome to rebuke two Bishops during his lifetime (much like Paul did to Peter) and both submitted to his rebuke.
Heresies arise within established Churches when they do not take correction. This history shows how the heart of the Church at Rome was lost to sin, while retaining its pious exterior. Apostolic succession is no replacement for repentance and conversion.
67 A.D. to 200 A.D.
| Name | Start | End | Significant activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linus | 67 | 79 | Taught that women should cover their heads. |
| Anacletus | 79 | 88 | Ordained a number of priests |
| Clement I | 88 | 98 | Wrote a letter to the Corinthians |
| Evaristus | 98 | 105 | None known |
| Alexander I | 105 | 115 | None known |
| Sixtus | 117 | 126 | Decreed that
|
| Telesphorus | 126 | 137 | Started to celebrate Easter on the Sunday after Passover |
| Hyginus | 138 | 140 | Defined the grades of ecclesiastical hierarchy |
| Pius | 140 | 154 | None known |
| Anicetus | 154 | 167 | Moderately condemned the heresy of Montanism, Gnosticism and Marcionism. Met with Polycarp and accepted that the date of the celebration of Easter should be decided by churches individually. |
| Soter | 167 | 174 | Decreed that marriage is only valid if blessed by a priest. |
| Name | Start | End | Significant activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eleuterus | 174 | 189 | Decree that no kind of food should be despised by Christians. Mild response to Montanism |
| Victor I | 189 | 199 | From Africa, he (1) started mass in latin, and (2) excommunicated himself from all other churches for not agreeing with him on the date of Easter. After a rebuke from Irenaeus, he resumed this fellowship. |
| Zephyrinus | 199 | 217 | Decreed that excommunicated sinners could be absolved through pennance. Hippolytus (who claimed to be a disciple of Irenaeus) officially broke with the Church of Rome under Zphyrinus, and is often called the first antipope. |
| Callixtus | 217 | 222 | Established the practice of the absolution of all repented sins. Was similar to Irenaeus in his doctrine of the Godhead, and was rebuked by Hippolytus and Tertullian, who were both early Trinitarians, for his doctrine and morals. |
| Urban 1 | 222 | 230 | None known |
| Pontian | 230 | 235 | Died in exile with Hippolytus. |
| Anterus | 235 | 236 | None known |
| Fabian | 236 | 250 | Sent men to evangelize Gaul after the persecutions of Emperor Decius had reduced the Christian population (Gaul was the area where Irenaeus had ministered). |
| Cornelius | 250 | 253 | Little known, Excommunicated Novation. |
| Lucius 1 | 253 | 254 | Known for relaxed view on restoration of backsliders |
| Stephen 1 | 254 | 257 | Declared that those baptised in splinter churches do not need rebaptism |
| Sixtus II | 257 | 258 | Little known. |
| Dionysius | 259 | 268 | Reorganized Roman Church, assisted church in Cappadocia, and demanded doctrine on Godhead from the church in Alexandria |
| Felix I | 269 | 274 | Wrote a letter to Alexandrian church in support of the Trinity and Incarnation. |
| Eutychian | 275 | 283 | Little known. |
| Caius | 283 | 296 | Little known. |
| Marcellinus | 296 | 304 | Recanted Christianity and sacrificed to idols at Emperor Diocletian's persecution, but later recanted and was martyred. |
| Marcellus I | 308 | 309 | Required severe penance for those that backslid during Diocletian's persecution, and was ousted by Emperor Maxentius because of the resulting inter-christian feuds. |
| Eusebius | 309 | 309 | Lasted as Bishop for one day. Was ousted by Empereor Maxentius for not stopping the inter-Christian riots by admitting the backslidden without pennance. |
| Miltiades | 310 | 314 | Little known. |