Popes Through History
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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. |
| Name | Start | End | Significant activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silvester I | 314 | 335 | Present at the Council of Nicea, gave gifts to Constantine I, condemned Arianism. |
| Mark | 336 | 336 | Little known, died of natural causes. |
| Julius I | 337 | 352 | Involved in Arian controversy, and deposition of Athanasius. Wrote "Can you be ignorant, that this is the custom, that we should be written to first, so that from here what is just may be defined" (Epistle of Julius to Antioch, c. xxii). |
| Liberius | 352 | 366 | Admitted to membership the more moderate Arians |
| Damasus I | 366 | 383 | Supporters killed opposing deacon. Accused of Murder and adultery. Established the Vulgate (latin translation of the Bible), and set the modern Catholic Canon. |
| Siricius | 384 | 399 | Protested the death sentence of Priscillian, along with Martin of Tours, by Emperor Magnus Maximus as requested by Bishops from Hispania. |
| Anastasius I | 399 | 401 | FIRST BISHOP TO USE THE TITLE OF POPE. Condemned writings of Origen |
| Innocent I | 402 | 417 | Expanded Rome's authority as the universal settler of disputes |
| Zosimus | 417 | 418 | Fought to establish Rome's authority. Decreed on the blessing of Easter candles. |
| Boniface I | 418 | 422 | Defended the rights of the Pope |
| Celestine I | 422 | 432 | Did not tolerate any deviation from his predecessor's decrees. |
| Sixtus III | 432 | 440 | Dedicated the Basilica "Santa Maria Maggiore" to Mary, the Mother of God. (Official title from Council of Ephesus in 431) |
| Leo I | 440 | 461 | Convinced Attila the Hun not to sack Rome. Increased and extended Papal Authority over various areas (i.e. Gaul), "What Leo believes we all believe, anathema to him who believes anything else. Peter has spoken through the mouth of Leo." |
| Hilarius | 461 | 468 | Fought to establish Rome's authority, and contended with Emperor Anthemius to not allow other churches in Rome. |
| Simplicius | 468 | 483 | Fought heresy and established the Pope's powers. |
| Felix II | 483 | 492 | Fought against heretics and anyone exercising Rome's authority |
| Gelasius I | 492 | 496 | Prolific writer on the Primacy of the Pope. Replaced the pagan festival of fertility and purification (February), with the celebration of the Virgin Mary. Fought with eastern Church over God having two divine natures (Rome's view) vs. one divine nature (Eastern view). |
| Anastasius II | 496 | 498 | Endeavoured to reconcile with the eastern Church, and is vilified by subsequent Popes for doing this. |
| Symmachus | 498 | 514 | Accused by Senator Festus of fornication, decreed to be above reproach by human court, but not cleared of charges. |
| Hormisdas | 514 | 523 | Ended the schism with the eastern Churches, with Rome victorious |
| John I | 523 | 526 | Put in prison by Theodoric the Great for not listening to him. |
| Felix IV | 526 | 530 | The choice of Tehodoric the Great for Pope. Defined church teaching on grace and free-will. |
| Boniface II | 530 | 532 | Little known |
| John II | 533 | 535 | First pope to adopt another name. Dealt with the election process of Popes. |
| Agapetus I | 535 | 536 | Secured a written declaration of faith from Eastern Emperor Justinian I. |
| Silverius | 536 | 537 | Opposed the Monophysite heresy. Deposed on account of treason. |
| Vigilius | 537 | 555 | Silverius put in his keeping, where he soon died. Fought hard against Monophysitism, and eventually fled Rome when it was attacked by the Goths. |
| Pelagius I | 556 | 561 | Accepted Emperor Justinians "three chapters" reconciliation of monophysitism, which subsequent Popes tried to reverse. Was in Rome when sacked by Totila the Goth. |
| John III | 561 | 574 | Little known |
| Benedict I | 575 | 579 | Election confirmed by the Byzantium emperor. Little known |
| Pelagius II | 579 | 590 | Promoted the celibacy of the clergy |
| Gregory I | 590 | 604 | Converted the Anglo-Saxon kings (through arranged marriages) to counter the spread of Christianity from Ireland, which had developed independently from Rome. |
| Sabinian | 604 | 606 | Little known, started the ringing of Bells at the Eucharist. |
Footnotes