March 12, 2025
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by Joshua Charles

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

(Updated March 12, 2025)

Relevant Resources

Introduction

Study Banks are compilations of raw research data—from Scripture and other historical sources—on particular topics, intended to help others research the same topics.

This Study Bank is a compilation of Christian and other historical records of St. Peter being in Rome as its first bishop, and his successors in that office. 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.

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

Pope #2: St. Pope Linus

Pope #3: St. Pope Anacletus

Pope #4: St. Pope Clement

Pope #5: St. Pope Evaristus

Pope #6: St. Pope Alexander

Pope #7: St. Pope Xystus/Sixtus

Pope #8: St. Pope Telesphorus

Pope #9: St. Pope Hyginus

Pope #10: St. Pope Pius

Pope #11: St. Pope Anicetus

Pope #12: St. Pope Soter

Pope #13: St. Pope Eleutherus

Pope #14: St. Pope Victor

Pope #15: St. Pope Zephyrinus

Pope #16: St. Pope Callistus

Pope #17: St. Pope Urbanus/Urban

  • Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History (Book 6, Ch. 21, §2Ch. 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, §3Ch. 29, §1) (c. 323)
  • St. Optatus, Against the Donatists (Book 2, §3, pg. 33) (c. 365)

Pope #19: St. Pope Anteros/Anterus

Pope #20: St. Pope Fabianus/Fabian

Pope #21: St. Pope Cornelius

Pope #22: St. Pope Lucius

Pope #23: St. Pope Stephen

Pope #24: St. Pope Xystus/Sixtus II

Pope #25: St. Pope Dionysius

Pope #26: St. Pope Felix

Pope #27: St. Pope Eutychianus/Eutychian

Pope #28: St. Pope Caius

Pope #29: St. Pope Marcellinus

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

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

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. ↩︎

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