The Catholic Church has long been a ruling institution, embodying millenniums of sacred tradition and mystery.
While the question of the 1st pope of the Catholic Church may seem straightforward, it’s still highly debated by religious and historic scholars alike. Hence, throughout this article, we’ll discuss these claims in an impartial manner to better understand who is most often thought to be the 1st bishop of Rome and why.
Let’s take a closer look at the highly-debated history of the Catholic Church and its papacy.
When was the Catholic Church founded and by whom?
Though wildly debated, the Catholic Church’s beginnings are generally accepted to trace back to Jesus Christ and the teachings he spread during the 1st century AD. So, while Catholicism as it is today may not have existed during Jesus’ lifetime, he is widely considered to be its founder.
Although a precise starting date for the Catholic Church is almost impossible to set, most religious scholars and followers believe Catholicism began 50 days after Jesus Christ was resurrected.
Of course, it took many years for the Catholic Church to grow to the powercell it is now, but the seed is often thought to have been planted after Christ came back to life and began gathering apostles to spread the gospel.
Who was the first pope in the Bible?
In the Bible, Peter is often thought of as the 1st pope of the Catholic Church. Per the Catholic tradition of primacy, the pope has a divine authority over the church and is responsible for guiding the church’s followers towards the just word of God.
The scripture quotes Jesus calling Peter “Cephas,” or “rock” in ancient Aramaic. This name is given to him as Jesus declares Peter is the ‘rock’ the Christian church will be built upon – his divine being the foundation of God’s glory on Earth. Jesus also assigns Peter the role of ‘chief shepherd,’ designating him the task of leading Christ’s followers on Earth, similar to how a shepherd guides his flock.
Where in the Bible do they say Peter was the first pope?
Many Catholics refer to the Gospel of Matthew when addressing Peter’s position as the first pope.
Matthew 16:18-19 states, “[18] And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. [19] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Here, Jesus gives Peter the “keys of the kingdom of heaven,” which could be interpreted as him handing over God’s authority on Earth.
Conflicting interpretations
While the Catholic Church believes Peter to be the first pope and holder of primacy, other Christian interpretations dictate that Peter was never pope.
While these conflicting beliefs maintain that Peter was a Christian and follower of Christ, some say Peter was neither Roman Catholic nor began the Catholic succession. Others contest that Peter did not prescribe to divine Roman hierarchy, believing instead that every Christian is a royal priest.
They also argue that Matthew 16:18-19 has been translated incorrectly and that Peter’s declaration that Christ is the “Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16) will be the church’s foundation, rather than Peter himself.
Who was the first pope after Peter?
If you consider Peter to be the first pope, then who was the 2nd pope of the Catholic Church?
While ‘pope’ has come to mean the bishop of Rome and leader of the Catholic Church, early Roman Christian figures often used different titles, such as ‘bishop’ or ‘patriarch.’ This evolution of language can make it difficult to pinpoint exactly when and with whom the pope succession first began.
Several scholars cite Pope Linus as the first bishop of Rome after Peter, his rule lasting from c. 67 to 78 AD. Of course, this is still debated in religious and historical spaces today, and other schools of thought may argue in opposition to Linus’ primacy.
List of popes
After Peter and Linus, the following three popes came into succession:
- Anacletus or Cletus (80 to 92 AD)
- Clement (92 to 99 AD)
- Evaristus (96/99 to 108 AD)
While these original leaders of the Catholic Church have solidified their place in Catholicism and history, many people today are familiar with the most recent Catholic popes:
- John Paul II (1978 to 2005)
- Benedict XVI (2005 to 2013)
- Francis (2013 to Present)
John Paul II (Polish) made history as the 1st pope of the Catholic church who was not Italian. Meanwhile, Francis (Argentinian) became the first non-European pope.
Head to the Vatican’s official website to see a complete list of all popes, from Peter to Francis.
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