Who was our first Pope?

Answer 1

Your first pope was a Jewish man named Simon, who eventually became known by his Greek nickname Peter ("The Rock").

Answer 2

Yes, Peter is traditionally said to be the first pope.

However, the belief that Jesus 'appointed' him is a matter of belief, not fact. Peter's name means 'rock' itself, and while the interpretation can vary, it more likely meant that Jesus was founding a community of believers within each person, ('YOU are the rock') rather than the 'rocks' of the earth.

He certainly did not mean he would build his 'church' on Peter because there is no word for church in the Bible. Churches did not exist. He simply said the word ekklesiastika, which means community of believers, not a physical church itself. He was not in favor of churches, that fact is very clear when you study some of his teachings.

The notion of the Roman church was not finalized until the 4th century AD during the papacy of Sylvester I. This is when the church gained real power, whereas 'popes' before then were nothing more than minor bishops.

Answer 3

In my opinion Peter is the first Pope. For it is written in the bible that Jesus said he will build his church on the rock and he was refering to Peter after Peter answered that Jesus was the son of God. And after the death of Jesus Christ, Peter emerged as a leader who started the Prophetic message and the subsequent Popes continued in the same way.

Answer 4

St. Peter is regarded as the first Pope, although there is no evidence that he ever reached Rome (unlike Paul)

Answer 5

The first Pope was Peter. Jesus said, "Upon this rock, I build my church." Peter means Rock. Jesus appointed Peter as the first Pope, you see. I learned this from the Church.

Answer 6

Theoretically, St. Peter was. There is plenty of evidence that he was the first bishop of Rome (even by anti-catholics).

From catholicculture.org:

There are more historical records to show that St. Peter was Bishop of Rome until he was martyred about 67. If you’d like additional citations, I’d be glad to provide them. The evidence is clear and uncontradicted.

Dr. Smith indirectly acknowledges this by saying that some (unnamed) historians think it is possible that another Peter and Paul, rather than the apostles, were martyred in Rome.

Really? Please let me know what records exist to suggest this hypothesis.

Protestant scholar J. N. D. Kelly in the Oxford Dictionary of Popes says, "It seems certain that Peter spent his closing years in Rome…To early writers like Clement of Rome (c.95), Ignatius of Antioch (c. 107), and Irenaeus (c.180), it was common knowledge that he worked and died in Rome."

Even anti-Catholic apologist James White of Alpha Omega Ministries, in a June 1995 debate with Joe Gallegos, conceded, "According to the Papal claims, Peter was the Bishop of Rome until his death. There is plenty of evidence of this from the writings of early fathers, but surprisingly little from the Biblical text itself."

Actually, there is Biblical evidence.

In St. Peter’s 1st Epistle 5:12-14, he writes, "By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son. Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen."

It is well established that Babylon is a code name for Rome. It is used in this way in the Revelation to St. John (The Apocalypse) six times:

Revelation 14:8, "And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication."

Peter was followed by Linus (yes, Linus) from 67 to 79 AD, then Anacletus, then Clement I.

Answer 7

I don't have a pope

Answer 8

The Catholic tradition has insisted upon a divine founding and inspired a perpetuation, linking its beginning with the charge given to Peter in the sixteenth chapter of Matthew. Around the inside of the dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome are inscribed these words: “Tu es petrus et super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam … et tibi dabo claves regni caelorum.” These are words spoken by Jesus directly to Peter and not to all the apostles as a quorum.

Many authors, interpreters, and translators have sought to determine from this text the original intent of the writer. However, we are not concerned with the writer but with the intent of the speaker, Jesus Christ. The best translation of this text in the Catholic version (the King James Version is practically the same) is, “… thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, … And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 16:18, 19, Douay Version.)

It is obvious that the position of the Catholic Church relative to the primacy of Peter rests upon this scripture. Both the doctrine of Petrine priority and the principle of Roman supremacy are derived either directly or by implication from this text. It was to Peter that the revelation was given: “… flesh and blood hath not revealed in unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 16:17.)

The claim of the Catholic Church rests on the idea that the authority bestowed upon Peter has been perpetuated through the centuries in the papacy.



I accept the presidency of Peter but take the position that the Church was to be built upon the rock of revelation—not on Peter. Further, the point at issue is whether there has been an inspired perpetuation and transmission of Petrine primacy or a deviation and departure from the spirit and intent of the conferred divine commission, as recorded in the New Testament.

According to Luke, the disciples of the brotherhood of Jesus were first called Christians in the city of Antioch. (See Acts 11:26.) And by coincidence, it was also in Antioch that the term catholic was first used by Bishop Ignatius in his epistle to the Smyrnaeans. About a.d. 107, he wrote with reference to the mainstream of Christianity, “Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. … Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; … even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the catholic Church.” (Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans 8.)

Before it formally became a part of the identifying label of the Christian Church, the word catholic was used as a descriptive, uncapitalized adjective meaning the universal or worldwide church, as opposed to a local or community branch or congregation.

With the gradual strengthening of the power of the bishops, there was a tendency, on the part of some at least, to look to Rome as the hub of the church. And there was a corresponding assertion by the bishop of Rome to assume the right of superintendence over the other bishops.

Before the close of the third century, the word Catholic, now capitalized, had become a recognized part of the identifying label for the bulk of Christianity. It also set it apart as being orthodox and official in contrast to any heretical or unorthodox movements.

An end to many decades of hostility and persecution, which had kept the Church underground, was finally reached in the early part of the fourth century a.d. when Emperor Constantine and his associates issued the edict of toleration.

Under imperial protection, but with some notable exceptions, the Catholic Church expanded rapidly throughout the period of the Roman Empire. It was an official act of Constantine in that same century, however, that laid the foundation for the traditional Roman Catholic Church as we know it, although it separated eventually from the Eastern or Greek church. By turning the imperial attention away from Rome and by moving the capital of the empire from Rome to Byzantium (a.d. 330), Constantine left Rome to its bishop.

Over the centuries, with persistent but not unchallenged assertion of central authority, the Roman bishop acquired the title of papa or pope, father of fathers, father of bishops, and other secular and political titles. The traditional concept of the papacy as the supreme hierarchical authority of the Roman Catholic Church was well established in the early part of the Middle Ages.


The first bishop to claim primacy in writing was Pope Stephen I (254-257). The timing of the claim is significant, for it was made during the worst of the tumults of the third century. There were several persecutions during this century and they hit the Church of Rome hard. But then came the miracle of Constantine's conversion, and suddenly the church at Rome was saved.

Pope Damasus I (366-384) was first to claim that Rome's primacy rested solely on Peter, and was the first pope to refer to the Roman church as "the Apostolic See". The prestige of the city itself was no longer sufficient; but in the doctrine of apostolic succession the popes had an unassailable position.

Answer 9

John 21:15-17 states:

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."

He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."

He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." (Jesus) said to him, "Feed my sheep.

Matthew 16:17-19 states:

Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

The Catholic Church believes the Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the "rock" of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock.

The Pope is the senior pastor of 1.1 billion Catholics, the direct successor of Simon Peter.

The Pope’s main roles include teaching, sanctifying, and governing.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 880-882: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p4.htm#880

With love in Christ.