Study Bank | The Ancient Lists and Testimonies of Popes Succeeding from Peter

(Updated March 12, 2025)

Relevant Resources

• Quote Archive | The Papacy and the Invincibility of the Church
• Great Apostolates | Joe Heschmeyer, Shameless Popery, “Peter Never Went to Rome” and other Protestant fictions… (February 18, 2025)

Introduction

This Study Bank on the Ancient Lists and Testimonies of Popes Succeeding from Peter is part of Becoming Catholic. When preparing articles, I typically engage in a substantial amount of research, and often organize it in separate documents I then use as a reference when writing the article. Sometimes these are Scripture word studies, other times they are compilations of verses or patristic and other quotes on particular subjects, etc. I have found that organizing the data often leads to a better understanding of the topic at hand.

A Study Bank, therefore, is in no way an article, or presenting an argument. It is simply a compilation of data on a particular topic.

In this Study Bank, I list every citation I have found where ancient authors testify to the presence of both St. Peter, and the first few centuries of his papal successors, in Rome. Not a single ancient author denies that Peter was in Rome. In fact, they roundly testify that Peter was in Rome; he established his episcopal throne there; he was martyred there; and his episcopal throne was filled by individual men who succeeded him.

In the Overview section, I list each Pope and the ancient authors that reference them in order to provide a quick, broad overview. In the Sources section, I list all sources that are not online. In the List of Popes section, I provide all the citations from each author.

This Study Bank will be constantly updated.

Sources

• St. Optatus, Mark Edwards, trans., Against the Donatists (Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 1997).
• Paulus Orosius, Roy J. Deferrari, trans., The Fathers of the Church, Vol. 50: Paulus Orosius: The Seven Books of History Against the Pagans (Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 1964).

Pope #1: St. Peter

• St. Peter, First Letter (1 Pet. 5:13)
• St. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Romans (§4) (c. 107)
• St. Dionysius of Corinth, Letter to the Romans (c. 171)
• St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (Book 3, Ch. 1, §1; Ch. 3, §2) (c. 180)
• St. Clement of Alexandria, Fragments (Ch. 1, 4) (c. 200)
• Tertullian, Prescription Against Heretics (Ch. 32, 36) (200)
• St. Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle (c. 300)
• Lactantius, Of the Manner in Which the Persecutors Died (Ch. 2) (c. 318)
• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 2, Ch. 14–15; Ch. 17, §1; Ch. 25 | Book 3, Ch. 2; Ch. 31 | Book 6, Ch. 14; Ch. 25, §5) (c. 323)
• Eusebius of Caesarea, The Proof of the Gospel (Book 3, Ch. 5)¹
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §§2-3, pg. 32) (c. 365)
• St. Epiphanius of Salamis, Panarion (Book 1, Ch. 27, §6)
• St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 6 (§§14-15) (c. 350)
• St. Jerome, Lives of Illustrious Men (Ch. 1) (c. 392-93)
• Paulus Orosius, The Seven Books of History Against the Pagans (Book 7, §6, pgs. 294-95) (418)

Pope #2: St. Pope Linus

• St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (Book 3, Ch. 3, §3) (c. 180)
• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 3, Ch. 2;  Ch. 4, §9; Ch. 13; Ch. 21, §3 | Book 5, Ch. 6, §1) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3 pg. 32) (c. 365)

Pope #3: St. Pope Anacletus

• St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (Book 3, Ch. 3, §3) (c. 180)
• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 3, Ch. 13; Ch. 15; Ch. 21, §3 | Book 5, Ch. 6, §2) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 32) (c. 365)

Pope #4: St. Pope Clement

• St. Dionysius of Corinth, Letter to St. Pope Soter, quoted in Eusebius, Church History (Book 4, Ch. 23, §11) (c. 171)
• St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (Book 3, Ch. 3, §3) (c. 180)
• Tertullian, Prescription Against Heretics (Ch. 32) (200)
• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 3, Ch. 4, §10; Ch. 15–16; Ch. 21, §2) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 32) (c. 365)
• St. Jerome, Lives of Illustrious Men (Ch. 15) (c. 392-93)
• Rufinus, Conclusion to His Translation of Origen’s Commentary on Romans (c. 407)

Pope #5: St. Pope Evaristus

• St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (Book 3, Ch. 3, §3) (c. 180)
• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 3, Ch. 34 | Book 4, Ch. 1, §2 | Book 5, Ch. 6, §4) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pgs. 32-33) (c. 365)

Pope #6: St. Pope Alexander

• St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (Book 3, Ch. 3, §3) (c. 180)
• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 4, Ch. Ch. 4 | Book 5, Ch. 6, §4) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pgs. 32-33) (c. 365)

Pope #7: St. Pope Xystus/Sixtus

• St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (Book 3, Ch. 3, §3) (c. 180)
• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 4, Ch. 4; Ch. 5, §5 | Book 5, Ch. 6, §4; Ch. 24, §14 | Book 7, Ch. 9, §§1, 6; Ch. 14; Ch. 27, §1) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #8: St. Pope Telesphorus

• St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (Book 3, Ch. 3, §3) (c. 180)
• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 4, Ch. 5, §5; Ch. 10 | Book 5, Ch. 6, §4; Ch. 24, §14) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #9: St. Pope Hyginus

• St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (Book 1, Ch. 27, §1 | Book 3, Ch. 3, §3; Ch. 4, §3) (c. 180)
• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 4, Ch. 10; Ch. 11, §§1-2, 6 | Book 5, Ch. 6, §4; Ch. 24, §14) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #10: St. Pope Pius

• St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (Book 3, Ch. 3, §3; Ch. 4, §3) (c. 180)
• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 4, Ch. 11, §§1, 6-7 | Book 5, Ch. 6, §4; Ch. 24, §14) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #11: St. Pope Anicetus

• St. Hegesippus, Memoirs, quoted in Eusebius, Church History (Book 4, Ch. 22, §3) (c. 170)
• St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (Book 1, Ch. 25, §6 | Book 3, Ch. 3, §§3-4; Ch. 4, §3) (c. 180)
• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 4, Ch. 11, §§1, 7; Ch. 14, §§1, 5; Ch. 19; Ch. 22, §3 | Book 5, Ch. 6, §4; Ch. 24, §§14, 16-17) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #12: St. Pope Soter

• St. Hegesippus, Memoirs, quoted in Eusebius, Church History (Book 4, Ch. 22, §3) (c. 170)
• St. Dionysius of Corinth, Letter to St. Pope Soter, quoted in Eusebius, Church History (Book 4, Ch. 23, §§9-10) (c. 171)
• St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (Book 3, Ch. 3, §3) (c. 180)
• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 4, Ch. 19; Ch. 22, §3; Ch. 23, §§9-10; Ch. 30, §3 | Book 5, Intro., §1; Ch. 6, §4; Ch. 24, §14) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #13: St. Pope Eleutherus

• St. Hegesippus, Memoirs, quoted in Eusebius, Church History (Book 4, Ch. 22, §3) (c. 170)
• Martyrs of Lyon, To St. Pope Eleutherus, quoted in Eusebius, Church History (Book 5, Ch. 3, §4; Ch. 4, §2) (177)
• St. Irenaeus of Lyon, Against Heresies (Book 3, Ch. 3, §3) (c. 180) (Pope when written)
• Tertullian, Prescription Against Heretics (Ch. 30) (200)
• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 4, Ch. 11, §7; Ch. 22, §3 | Book 5, Intro., §1; Ch. 3, §4; Ch. 4, §2; Ch. 5, §9; Ch. 6, §4; Ch. 22) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #14: St. Pope Victor

• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 3, Ch. 31, §2 | Book 5, Ch. 22; Ch. 23, §2; Ch. 24, §§1, 9-11, 18; Ch. 28, §§3-4, 6-7, 9) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)
• St. Jerome, Lives of Illustrious Men (Ch. 34) (c. 392-93)

Pope #15: St. Pope Zephyrinus

• Gaius/Caius, Dialogue, cited in Eusebius, Church History (Book 6, Ch. 20, §3) (unknown date)
• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 2, Ch. 25, §6 | Book 5, Ch. 28, §§3, 7, 12 | Book 6, Ch. 14, §10; Ch. 20, §3; Ch. 21, §1) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #16: St. Pope Callistus

• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 6, Ch. 21, §1) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #17: St. Pope Urbanus/Urban

• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 6, Ch. 21, §2; Ch. 23, §3) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #18: St. Pope Pontianus/Pontian

• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 6, Ch. 23, §3; Ch. 29, §1) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #19: St. Pope Anteros/Anterus

• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 6, Ch. 29, §§1-2) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #20: St. Pope Fabianus/Fabian

• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 6, Ch. 29, §§1-3; Ch. 36, §4; Ch. 39, §1) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #21: St. Pope Cornelius

• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 6, Ch. 39, §1; Ch. 43, §§3-5, 18-19, 22; Ch. 46, §3 | Book 7, Ch. 2) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)
• St. Jerome, Lives of Illustrious Men (Ch. 66) (c. 392-93)

Pope #22: St. Pope Lucius

• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 7, Ch. 2) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #23: St. Pope Stephen

• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 7, Ch. 2; Ch. 3; Ch. 4; Ch. 5, §§3, 6) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #24: St. Pope Xystus/Sixtus II

• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 7, Ch. 5, §3; Ch. 9, §§1, 6; Ch. 14; Ch. 27, §1) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #25: St. Pope Dionysius

• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 7, Ch. 26, §1; Ch. 27, §1; Ch. 30, §§1-2, 23) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #26: St. Pope Felix

• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 7, Ch. 30, §23; Ch. 32, §1) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #27: St. Pope Eutychianus/Eutychian

• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 7, Ch. 32, §1) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #28: St. Pope Caius

• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 7, Ch. 32, §1) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #29: St. Pope Marcellinus

• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 7, Ch. 32, §1) (c. 323)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #30: St. Pope Marcellus

• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #31: St. Pope Eusebius

• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3 (pg. 33)) (c. 365)

Pope #32: St. Pope Miltiades

• Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 10, Ch. 5, §18) (c. 323) (Pope when written)
• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #33: St. Pope Sylvester

• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #34: St. Pope Mark

• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #35: St. Pope Julius

• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #36: Pope Liberius

• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #37: St. Pope Damasus

• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)
• St. Jerome, Lives of Illustrious Men (Ch. 103) (c. 392-93)

Pope #38: St. Pope Siricius

• St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365) (Pope when written)

Footnotes

1. Eusebius of Caesarea, W.J. Ferrar, trans., The Proof of the Gospel, Volumes 1 and 2 (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2001), 134. ↩︎