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List of popes

This chronological list of popes corresponds to that given in the Annuario Pontificio under the heading "I Sommi Pontefici Romani" (The Supreme Pontiffs of Rome), excluding those that are explicitly indicated as antipopes. Published every year by the Roman Curia, the Annuario Pontificio attaches no consecutive numbers to the popes, stating that it is impossible to decide which side represented at various times the legitimate succession, in particular regarding Pope Leo VIII, Pope Benedict V and some mid-11th-century popes. The 2001 edition of the Annuario Pontificio introduced "almost 200 corrections to its existing biographies of the popes, from St Peter to John Paul II". The corrections concerned dates, especially in the first two centuries, birthplaces and the family name of one pope.

The term pope (Latin: papa "father") is used in several Churches to denote their high spiritual leaders (for example Coptic Pope). This title in English usage usually refers to the head of the Catholic Church. The Catholic pope uses various titles by tradition, including Summus Pontifex, Pontifex Maximus, and Servus servorum Dei. Each title has been added by unique historical events and unlike other papal prerogatives, is not incapable of modification.

Hermannus Contractus may have been the first historian to number the popes continuously. His list ends in 1049 with Pope Leo IX as number 154. Several changes were made to the list during the 20th century. Antipope Christopher was considered legitimate for a long time. Pope-elect Stephen was considered legitimate under the name Stephen II until the 1961 edition, when his name was erased. Although these changes are no longer controversial, a number of modern lists still include this "first Pope Stephen II". It is probable that this is because they are based on the 1913 edition of the Catholic Encyclopedia, which is in the public domain.


Popes of the 1st century
Pontiff
number		 Pontificate Portrait Name: English
· Regnal
Motto:
Latin (English)		 Personal name Place of birth Age at start/
end of papacy		 Notes
1 1 April 33
– 29 June 67
(34 years, 89 days) 		1-St.Peter.jpg St Peter
PETRUS 		Šimʻōn Kêpâ
(Simon Peter)		 Bethsaida, Galilea, Roman Empire 32 / 66 Apostle of Jesus from whom he received the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, according to Matthew 16:18–19. Executed by crucifixion upside-down; feast day (Feast of Saints Peter and Paul) 29 June, (Chair of Saint Peter) 22 February. He is recognized by the Catholic Church as the first Bishop of Rome appointed by Christ. Also revered as saint in Eastern Christianity, with a feast day of 29 June.
2 29 June 67
– 23 September 76
(9 years, 86 days) 		2-St.Linus.jpg St Linus
Papa LINUS 		Linus Volterra, Italia, Roman Empire 57 / 66 Feast day 23 September. Also revered as a saint in Eastern Christianity, with a feast day of 7 June.
3 23 September 76
– 26 April 88
(11 years, 216 days) 		3-St.Cletus.jpg St Anacletus
(Cletus)
Papa ANACLETUS (Cletus) 		Anacletus Athens, Greece, Roman Empire 51 / 63 Martyred; feast day 26 April. Once erroneously split into Cletus and Anacletus.
4 26 April 88
– 23 November 99
(11 years, 211 days) 		4-St.Clement I.jpg St Clement I
Papa CLEMENS 		Clemens Rome, Roman Empire 53 / 64 Feast day 23 November. Issued 1 Clement which is said to be the basis of apostolic authority for the clergy. Also revered as a saint in Eastern Christianity, with a feast day of 25 November.
5 23 November 99
– 27 October 107
(7 years, 338 days) 		5-St.Evaristus.jpg St Evaristus
Papa EVARISTUS 		Evaristus Bethlehem, Judea, Roman Empire 49 / 55 Said to have divided Rome into parishes, assigning a priest to each. Feast day of 26 October.
Popes of the 2nd century
Pontiff
number		 Pontificate Portrait Name: English
· Regnal
Motto:
Latin (English)		 Personal name Place of birth Age at start/
end of papacy		 Notes
6 27 October 107
– 3 May 115
(7 years, 188 days) 		6-St.Alexander I.jpg St Alexander I
Papa ALEXANDER 		Alexander Rome, Roman Empire 30 / 40 Inaugurated the custom of blessing houses with holy water. Also revered as a saint in Eastern Christianity, with a feast day of 16 March.
7 3 May 115
– 3 April 125
(9 years, 335 days) 		7-St.Sixtus I.jpg St Sixtus I
Papa XYSTUS 		Xystus Rome, Roman Empire 73 / 83 Feast day of 6 April. Also revered as a saint in Eastern Christianity, with a feast day of 10 August.
8 3 April 125
– 5 January 136
(10 years, 277 days) 		8-St.Telesphrous.jpg St Telesphorus
Papa TELESPHORUS 		Telesphorus Terranova da Sibari, Italia, Roman Empire 58 / 69 Feast day of 5 January. Also revered as a saint in Eastern Christianity, with a feast day of 22 February. Church Father St. Irenaeus called him a great martyr.
9 5 January 136
– 11 January 140
(4 years, 6 days) 		9-St.Hyginus.jpg St Hyginus
Papa HYGINUS 		Ygínos Athens, Greece, Roman Empire 58 / 62 Tradition holds he was martyred; feast day 11 January.
10 11 January 140
– 11 July 155
(15 years, 181 days) 		10-St.Pius I.jpg St Pius I
Papa PIUS 		Pius Aquileia, Italia, Roman Empire 59 / 74 Martyred by sword; feast day 11 July. Decreed that Easter should only be celebrated on a Sunday.
11 11 July 155
– 20 April 166
(10 years, 283 days) 		11-St.Anicetus.jpg St Anicetus
Papa ANICETUS 		Anicitus Emesa, Syria, Roman Empire 63 / 74 Tradition holds he was martyred; feast day 17 April. Decreed that priests are not allowed to have long hair.
12 20 April 166
– 22 April 174
(8 years, 2 days) 		12-St.Soter.jpg St Soter
Papa SOTERIUS 		Soterius Fondi, Aquileia, Roman Empire 46 / 55 Tradition holds he was martyred; feast day 22 April. Declared that marriage was valid as a sacrament blessed by a priest; formally inaugurated Easter as an annual festival in Rome.
13 22 April 174
– 26 May 189
(15 years, 34 days) 		13-St.Eleuterus.jpg St Eleuterus
Papa ELEUTHERIUS 		Eleutherius Nicopoli, Epirus, Roman Empire 45 / 59 Tradition holds he was martyred; feast day 6 May.
14 26 May 189
– 28 July 199
(10 years, 63 days) 		14-St.Victor I.jpg St Victor I
Papa VICTOR 		Victor Africa, Roman Empire 34 / 44 Known for excommunicating Theodotus of Byzantium. Quartodecimanism controversy.
15 28 July 199
– 20 December 217
(18 years, 145 days) 		15-St.Zephyrinus.jpg St Zephyrinus
Papa ZEPHYRINUS 		Zephyrinus Rome, Roman Empire 39 / 57 Combated against the adoptionist heresies of the followers of Theodotus the Byzantium who were ruled by Theodotus, the Money Changer and Asclepiodotus.

Although not physically martyred, he is called a martyr for the suffering he endured.
Popes of the 3rd century
Pontiff
number		 Pontificate Portrait Name: English
· Regnal
Motto:
Latin (English)		 Personal name Place of birth Age at start/
end of papacy		 Notes
16 20 December 217
– 14 October 222
(7 years, 298 days) 		16-St.Callixtus I.jpg St Callixtus I
Papa CALLISTUS 		Callistus Rome, Roman Empire 62 / 67 Martyred; feast day 14 October.
17 14 October 222
– 23 May 230
(7 years, 221 days) 		17-St.Urban I.jpg St Urban I
Papa URBANUS 		Urbanus Rome, Roman Empire 47 / 55 Also revered as a saint in Eastern Christianity, with a feast day of 25 May.
18 21 August 230
– 28 September 235
(5 years, 38 days) 		18-St.Pontian.jpg St Pontian
Papa PONTIANUS 		Pontianus Rome, Roman Empire 55 / 60 First to abdicate after exile to Sardinia by Emperor Maximinus Thrax. The Liberian Catalogue records his death on 28 September 235, the earliest exact date in papal history.
19 21 November 235
– 3 January 236
(13 days) 		19-St.Anterus.jpg St Anterus
Papa ANTERUS 		Anterus Petilia, Italia, Roman Empire 55 / 56 Feast day 3 January. Also revered as a saint in Eastern Christianity, with a feast day of 5 August.
20 10 January 236
– 20 January 250
(14 years, 10 days) 		20-St.Fabian.jpg St Fabian
Papa FABIANUS 		Fabianus Rome, Roman Empire 36 / 50 Divided the communities of Rome into seven districts, each supervised by a deacon. Feast day 20 January. Also revered as a saint in Eastern Christianity, with a feast day of 5 August.
21 6 March 251
– 25 June 253

(2 years, 111 days) 		21-St.Cornelius.jpg St Cornelius
Papa CORNELIUS 		Cornelius Rome, Roman Empire 71 / 73 Died a martyr through extreme hardship; feast day 16 September.
22 25 June 253
– 5 March 254

(253 days) 		22-St.Lucius I.jpg St Lucius I
Papa LUCIUS 		Lucius Rome, Roman Empire 48 / 49 Feast day 5 March.
23 12 March 254
– 2 August 257
(3 years, 143 days) 		23-St.Stephen I.jpg St Stephen I
Papa STEPHANUS 		Stephanus Rome, Roman Empire 54 / 57 Martyred by beheading; feast day 2 August. Also revered as a saint in Eastern Christianity, with the same feast day.
24 30 August 257
– 6 August 258

(341 days) 		24-St.Sixtus II.jpg St Sixtus II
Papa XYSTUS Secundus 		Sixtus Athens, Greece, Roman Empire 42 / 43 Martyred by beheading. Also revered as a saint in Eastern Christianity, with a feast day of 10 August.
25 22 July 259
– 26 December 268
(9 years, 157 days) 		25-St.Dionysius.jpg St Dionysius
Papa DIONYSIUS 		Dionysius Terranova da Sibari, Italia, Roman Empire 59 / 68 Feast day 26 December.
26 5 January 269
– 30 December 274
(5 years, 359 days) 		26-St.Felix I.jpg St Felix I
Papa FELIX 		Felix Rome, Roman Empire 63 / 68  
27 4 January 275
– 7 December 283
(8 years, 337 days) 		27-St.Eutychian.jpg St Eutychian
Papa EUTYCHIANUS 		Eutychianus Luni, Italia, Roman Empire 35 / 43  
28 17 December 283
– 22 April 296
(12 years, 127 days) 		28-St.Caius.jpg St Caius
Papa CAIUS 		Gaius Salona, Dalmatia, Roman Empire 38 / 51 Martyred (according to legend) Feast day 22 April. Also revered as a saint in Eastern Christianity, with a feast day of 11 August.
29 30 June 296
– 26 April 304
(7 years, 301 days) 		29-St.Marcellinus.jpg St Marcellinus
Papa MARCELLINUS 		Marcellinus Rome, Roman Empire 46 / 54 Feast day 26 April. Also revered as a saint in Eastern Christianity, with a feast day of 7 June.
Popes of the 4th century
Pontiff
number		 Pontificate Portrait Name: English
· Regnal
Motto:
Latin (English)		 Personal name Place of birth Age at start/
end of papacy		 Notes
30 27 May 308
–16 January 309
(234 days) 		30-St.Marcellus I.jpg St Marcellus I
Papa MARCELLUS 		Marcellus Italia, Roman Empire 53 / 54 Banished from Rome under Maxentius (309).
31 18 April 309
– 17 August 309
(121 days) 		31-St.Eusebius.jpg St Eusebius
Papa EUSEBIUS 		Eusebius Sardinia, Roman Empire 54 / 54 Banished by the emperor Maxentius, and died in exile.
32 2 July 311
– 10 January 314
(2 years, 192 days) 		32-St.Miltiades.jpg St Miltiades
(Melchiades)
Papa MILTIADES 		Miltiades
(or Melchiades)		 Africa, Roman Empire 41 / 44 First pope after the end of the persecution of Christians through the Edict of Milan (313 AD) issued by Constantine the Great. Presided over the Lateran council of 313.
33 31 January 314
– 31 December 335
(21 years, 334 days) 		33-St.Sylvester I.jpg St Sylvester I
Papa SILVESTER 		Silvester Sant'Angelo a Scala, Apulia et Calabria, Roman Empire 29 / 50 Feast day 31 December. Also revered as a saint in Eastern Christianity, with a feast day of 2 January. First Council of Nicaea (325). Under him was built: the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme and Old St. Peter's Basilica. Donation of Constantine.
34 18 January 336
– 7 October 336
(263 days)
(290 - 7 October 336) 		34-St.Mark.jpg St Mark
Papa MARCUS 		Marcus Rome, Roman Empire 46 / 46 One of Mark's undertakings was to compile stories of the lives of martyrs and bishops before his time. There is some reason to believe he founded two churches in the area of Rome. One of them is still known to this day as the Church of San Marco, although it is greatly changed since his time. The other church was at the Catacomb of Balbina, a cemetery. Emperor Constantine gave gifts of land and furnishing for both buildings. Feast day 7 October.
35 6 February 337
– 12 April 352
(15 years, 66 days) 		35-St.Julius I.jpg St Julius I
Papa IULIUS 		Iulius Rome, Roman Empire 57 / 72 Arian controversy. Credited with splitting the birth of Christ into two distinct celebrations: The Epiphany stayed on the traditional date, and the Nativity was added on 25 December.
36 17 May 352
– 24 September 366
(14 years, 130 days) 		36-Liberius.jpg Liberius
Papa LIBERIUS 		Liberius Rome, Roman Empire 42 / 56 Earliest pope not canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. Revered as a saint in Eastern Christianity, with a feast day of 27 August.
37 1 October 366
– 11 December 384
(18 years, 71 days) 		37-St.Damasus I.jpg St Damasus I
Papa DAMASUS 		Damasus Egitania, Lusitania, Roman Empire 60 / 78 Patron of Jerome, commissioned the Vulgate translation of the Bible. Council of Rome (382).
38 17 December 384
– 26 November 399
(14 years, 344 days) 		38-St.Siricius.jpg St Siricius
Papa SIRICIUS 		Sicirius Rome, Roman Empire 50 / 65 His famous letters—the earliest surviving texts of papal decretals—focus particularly on religious discipline and include decisions on baptism, consecration, ordination, penance, and continence. Siricius’ important decretal of 386 (written to Bishop Himerius of Tarragona), commanding celibacy for priests, was the first decree on this subject.
39 27 November 399
– 19 December 401
(2 years, 22 days) 		39-St.Anastasius I.jpg St Anastasius I
Papa ANASTASIUS 		Anastasius Rome, Roman Empire 59 / 61 Instructed priests to stand and bow their heads as they read from the Gospels.
Popes of the 5th century
Pontiff
number		 Pontificate Portrait Wikipedia

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