List of popes

This chronological list of popes in the Catholic Church aligns with the information presented in the Annuario Pontificio under the title I Sommi Pontefici Romani (The Roman Supreme Pontiffs), intentionally omitting those identified as antipopes. Issued annually by the Roman Curia, the Annuario Pontificio has ceased to number the popes by their regnal numbers, citing the difficulty in determining which pope accurately reflects the legitimate succession during various historical periods. The 2001 edition of the Annuario Pontificio made "nearly 200 amendments to its existing biographies of the popes, from St. Peter to John Paul II". These amendments primarily addressed dates, particularly in the initial two centuries, as well as the birthplaces and family names of certain popes.

The term "pope" (from Latin: papa, meaning 'father') is employed by various churches to refer to their chief spiritual leaders, such as the Coptic pope. In English, this title typically denotes the head of the Catholic Church. The Catholic pope traditionally holds several titles, including Summus Pontifex, Pontifex Maximus, and Servus servorum Dei. Each of these titles has been added due to distinct historical events and, unlike some other papal prerogatives, they are not immutable.

Hermannus Contractus is believed to be the first historian to create a continuous numerical list of the popes, concluding with Leo IX as number 154 in 1049. Throughout the 20th century, this list underwent several modifications. For an extended period, Christopher was recognized as a legitimate pope; however, he was later removed from the list due to the circumstances surrounding his ascension to the papacy. Additionally, Pope-elect Stephen was referred to as Stephen II until the 1961 edition, which resulted in the removal of that designation. The decisions made during the Council of Pisa in 1409 were re-evaluated in 1963, leading to a reinterpretation of the Western Schism that extended Gregory XII's papacy to 1415 and categorized rival claimants Alexander V and John XXIII as antipopes.

A considerable number of these popes have been canonized as saints, with 48 out of the first 50 consecutive popes recognized as such, while others are undergoing the process of sainthood. Among the first 31 popes, 28 met their end as martyrs.

Chronological list

1st century

The timeline of the early popes is a subject of significant debate. The earliest recorded lists of popes did not emerge until the late 2nd century, by which time the monarchical episcopate had already taken shape in Rome. These initial lists incorporated conflicting traditions, leading to disputes even regarding the succession of the first popes. The first indisputable dates recorded are AD 222 and 235, marking the elections of Urban I and Liberius, respectively. The years attributed to the first 30 popes are based on the research of Richard Adelbert Lipsius, which frequently presents a discrepancy of three years compared to the traditional dates established by Eusebius of Caesarea. These dates are also referenced in the Catholic Encyclopedia.