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.

Early Bishops of Rome (from Liber Pontificalus, and the writings of Irenaeus)
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
  • Only ministers can touch the holy vessels,
  • Bishops returning from visiting Rome should not be accepted without a letter,
  • Priests should recite the Sanctus (a song) with the people.
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.
Early Bishops of Rome (from Liber Pontificalus, a Roman Catholic document)
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.


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