A Brief History of the Popes

Catholics believe that the pope is the universal shepherd of the universal church. We also believe that Jesus Christ established the papacy (see Matthew 16:18-19).

The history of the popes is filled with inspiration and excitement; it also includes periods of scandal and corruption. Christianity is rooted in the past, resounds in the present, and necessarily moves into the future. In others words, Christianity begins in faith and finds its fulfillment in love.

The following list of popes covers immense territory. In a sense, it outlines the story of Christianity. It includes periods of dynamic growth, as well as periods of heresy and schism. The vast majority of popes carried out their sacred trust with grace and dignity; others were swept into corruption, division, political intrigue, and scandal.

This papal timeline is based on dates listed in the Vatican's official list. The basic information includes the name of the pope and the dates of his particular pontificate. In some cases, a third piece of information has been added, namely, a unique feature about that specific pope. The entries with an asterisk (*) highlight significant events from world history that happened during that specific pontificate.

1	St. Peter, d. ca. 64. The first disciple called by Jesus; he is also credited with writing two Letters that appear in the New Testament. The first pope to be martyred and the first pope to be named a saint.
2	St. Linus, 67-76.
3	St. Anacletus (Cletus), 76-88. His name is commemorated in Eucharist Prayer I.
4	St. Clement I, 88-97. He is also known as Clement of Rome.
5	St. Evaristus, 97-105.
6	St. Alexander I, 105-115. Inaugurated the custom of blessing houses with holy water.
7	St. Sixtus I, 115-125. The Latin name Sixtus means "sixth", the sixth successor of Peter.
8	St. Telesphoros, 125-136. Inaugurated the seven-week fast before Easter.
9	St. Hyginus, 136-140. Along with St. Justin Martyr, Hyginus was well-known for defending the Church.
10	St. Pius I, 140-155. The first pope to function as Bishop of Rome.
11	St. Anicetus, 155-166.
12	St. Soter, 166-175. Introduced Easter as an annual liturgical feast in Rome.
13	St. Eleutherius, 175-189. Served as a deacon to Pope Anicetus.
14	St. Victor I, 189-198. The first African pope.
15	St. Zephrynus, 199-217.
16	St. Callistus I, 217-222.
17	St. Urban I, 222-230.
18	St. Pontian, 230-235. The first pope to abdicate his office.
19	St. Anterus, 235-236. Died a natural death after serving as pope for less than two months.
20	St. Fabian, 236-250. One of the most respected popes of the early Church.
21	St. Cornelius, 251-253.
22	St. Lucius I, 253-254.
23	St. Stephen I, 254-257.
24	St. Sixtus II, 257-258. This highly venerated martyr was beheaded by order of the Emperor Valerian.
25	St. Dionysius, 260-268. His election to the papacy was delayed because of Christian persecution in Rome.
26	St. Felix I, 269-274.
27	St. Eutychian, 274-283.
28	St. Caius, 283-296. The Roman Empire is partitioned into West and East.
29	St. Marcellinus, 296-304.
30	St. Marcellus, 308-309.
31	St. Eusebius, 309-310.
32	St. Melchiades, 311-314.
33	St. Sylvester I, 314-335. During his pontificate, the first ecumenical council (in Nicaea) was held. *Construction of St. Peter's Basilica begins in 330. *Seat of the Roman Empire was moved to Constantinople in 331.
34	St. Mark, 336. His papacy was cut short within the year.
35	St. Julius I, 337-352. He strongly defended the Council of Nicaea's teaching on the divinity of Christ.
36	Liberius, 352-366.
37	St. Damascus, 366-384. He authorized a new Latin translation of the New Testament. *Barbarian invasions begin in 375 and continue to 568.
38	St. Siricius, 384-399.
39	St. Anastasius, 399-401.
40	St. Innocent I, 401-417.
41	St. Zosimus, 417-418.
42	St. Boniface I, 418-422. He is the author of this familiar axiom, "Rome has spoken; the cause is finished."
43	St. Celestine I, 422-432. The Council of Ephesus was held during his pontificate.
44	St. Sixtus III, 432-440. He showed remarkable leadership for building Church unity.
45	St. Leo I (the Great), 440-461. He and Pope Gregory (590-604) are the only two popes to be called "the Great." Leo courageously confronted Attila the Hun and neutralized other barbaric invaders.
46	St. Hilary, 461-468.
47	St. Simplicius, 468-483.
48	St. Felix III. 483-492.
49	St. Gelasius, 492-496. He was first pope to be called "Vicar of Christ."
50	Anastasius II, 496-498.
51	St. Symmachus, 498-515.
52	St. Hormisdas, 514-523.
53	St. John I, 523-526. He was first pope to travel to the East (Constantinople).
54	St. Felix IV, 526-530.
55	Boniface II, 530-532. He was the first pope of German extraction.
56	John II, 533-535.
57	Agapitus, 535-536. He strongly opposed the Arian heresy, which held that that Jesus Christ was not the Son of God.
58	St. Silverius, 536-537. He was the first pope to resign his office.
59	Vigilius, 537-555.
60	Pelagius I, 556-561
61	John III, 561-574. *Muhammad (570-632), the founder of Islam, was born during John III's papacy.
62	Benedict I, 575-579.
63	Pelagius II, 579-590. He was the second pope of German extraction.
64	St. Gregory I (the Great), 590-604. The first pope to have been a monk, his name is closely associated with Gregorian chant.
65	Sabinian, 604-606.
66	Boniface III, 607. He died of natural causes nine months into his papacy.
67	Boniface IV, 608-615. His pastoral style was modeled on Pope Gregory's papacy.
68	St. Deusdedit, 615-618. During his pontificate, Rome suffered the ravages of an earthquake and the plague.
69	Boniface IV, 619-625. Known for his compassion for the poor, he distributed his entire wealth to the needy.
70	Honorius, 625-638.
71	Severinus, 640. He died two months after his consecration.
72	John IV, 640-642.
73	Theodore I, 642-649.
74	St. Martin I, 649-655. He was the last pope to be recognized as a martyr.
75	St. Eugene I, 654-657.
76	St. Vitalian, 657-672.
77	Adeodatus II, 672-676.
78	Donus, 676-678.
79	St. Agatho, 678-681. He restored friendly relations between Rome and Constantinople.
80	St. Leo II, 682-683. He was very pastoral in helping the poor and in advancing the quality of Church music.
81	St. Benedict II, 684-685.
82	John V, 685-686. Illness marked his entire pontificate.
83	Conon, 686-687.
84	St. Sergius, 687-701. He introduced the singing of the "Lamb of God" at Mass.
85	John VI, 701-705.
86	John VII. 705-707.
87	Sisinnius, 708. He died of natural causes twenty days after his election.
88	Constantine, 708-715. He spent one full year in Constantinople to improve relations between Rome and the East.
89	St. Gregory II, 715-731.
90	St. Gregory III, 731-741. He promoted missionary efforts to Germany and England.
91	St. Zachary, 741-752.
92	Stephen II, 752-757.
93	St. Paul I, 757-767. Brother and close advisor of Pope Stephen II, he is the only example of a new pope succeeding his older brother.
94	Stephen III, 768-772.
95	Adrian I, 772-795. Peaceful conditions allowed him to build and restore many churches in Rome.
96	St. Leo III, 795-816. *Charlesmagne is crowned the first Holy Roman Emperor in 800.
97	Stephen IV, 816-817.
98	St. Paschal I, 817-824.
99	Eugene II, 824-827.
100	Valentine, 827. He died less than two months after being consecrated.
101	Gregory IV, 827-844.
102	Sergius II, 844-847.
103	St. Leo IV, 847-855.
104	Benedict III, 855-858.
105	St. Nicholas I, 858-867.
106	Adrian II, 867-872.
107	John VIII. 872-882. The first pope to be assassinated, poison was the cause of death.
108	Marinus I, 882-884.
109	Adrian III, 884-885.
110	Stephen V, 885-891.
111	Formosus, 891-896.
112	Boniface, 896. He died of natural causes after about fifteen days in office.
113	Stephen VI, 896-897.
114	Romanus, 897. Little is known of his short pontificate.
115	Theodore II, 897. He was in office about twenty days.
116	John IX, 898-900.
117	Benedict IV, 900-903.
118	Leo V, 903. He was overthrown after less than two months in office.
119	Sergius, 904-911. He represents one of the most corrupt periods of the papacy.
120	Anastasius, 911-913.
121	Lando, 913-914.
122	John X, 914-928. He entire pontificate was filled with political intrigue.
123	Leo VI, 928.
124	Stephen VII, 928-931.
125	John XI, 931-935.
126	Leo VII, 936-939.
127	Stephen VIII, 939-942.
128	Marinus II, 942-946.
129	Agapitus, 946-955.
130	John XII, 955-964.
131	Leo VIII, 963-965.
132	Benedict V, 964-966. At one point, King Otto deported Benedict and reinstated the previous pope, Leo VIII. *Poland is Christianized beginning in 966.
133	John XIII, 966-972. There is confusion about the legitimate claims to the papacy from Leo III to John XIII.
134	Benedict VI, 973-974.
135	Benedict VII, 974-983. He increased the frequency of "ad limina visits." That practice still continues today, each diocesan bishops meets personally with the pope to discuss the state of the diocese.
136	John XIV, 983-984. Changed name to John since he was unwilling to keep his baptismal name of Peter.
137	John XV, 985-996. The first pope to formally canonize a saint (St. Ulric in 993).
138	Gregory V, 972-999. The first German pope.
139	Sylvester II, 999-1003. The first French pope.
140	John XVII, 1003. Authorized Polish missionaries to work among the Slavs.
141	John XVIII, 1004-1009. Abdicated the papacy shortly before his death to become a monk.
142	Sergius IV, 1009-1012. He changed name to Sergius since he was unwilling to keep his baptismal name of Peter.
143	Benedict VIII, 1012-1024. He was the first of three laymen who were consecutively elected to the papacy.
144	John XIX, 1024-1032. He succeeded his older brother Benedict VIII to the papacy.
145	Benedict IX, 1032-1044.
146	Sylvester III, 1045.
147	Gregory VI, 1045-1046.
148	Clement, 1046-1047.
149	Damasus, 1048. He died of malaria early in his papacy.
150	St. Leo IX, 1049-1054.
151	Victor II, 1055-1057.
152	Stephen IX, 1057-1058.
153	Nicholas, 1058-1061. He changed procedures for electing a pope, only allowed cardinal electors.
154	Alexander II, 1061-1073. He was known as a reformer pope.
155	St. Gregory VII, 1072-1085. He expanded the reformist agenda of Alexander II.
156	Blessed Victor III, 1086-1087.
157	Blessed Urban II, 1088-1099. *The first university with the authority to grant degrees is established in Italy in 1088. *The Crusades, a series of attacks by Western Christians against the Muslims to take control over Jerusalem, continues for the next 92 years.
158	Paschal II, 1099-1118.
159	Gelasius II, 1118-1119.
160	Callistus, 1119-1124.
161	Honorius II, 1124-1130.
162	Innocent II, 1130-1143. He convened the Second Lateran Council in 1139.
163	Celestine II, 1143-1144.
164	Lucius II, 1144-1145.
165	Blessed Eugene II, 1145-1153. He proclaimed the Second Crusade in 1145.
166	Anastasius, 1153-1154.
167	Adrian IV, 1154-1159. He was the first and only English pope.
168	Alexander III, 1159-1181. He imposed penance on King Henry II for the murder of St. Thomas of Becket (1172).
169	Lucius III, 1181-1185. Spent most of his pontificate outside of Rome.
170	Urban III, 1185-1187.
171	Gregory VIII, 1187. He was elected at age 87 and died two months later.
172	Clement III, 1187-1191. He was preoccupied with plans for launching the Third Crusade.
173	Celestine III, 1191-1198.
174	Innocent III, 1198-1216. He was the highpoint of the medieval papacy and exercised considerable political and spiritual power. *In 1215, King John issues the Magna Carta.
175	Honorius III, 1216-1227. He approved rules for the new Franciscan, Dominican, and Carmelite orders.
176	Gregory IX, 1227-1241. He canonized Francis of Assissi in 1226, Anthony of Padua in 1232, and Dominic in 1234.
177	Celestine IV, 1241. He died of natural causes about two weeks after being elected.
178	Innocent IV, 1243-1254. He was first pope to approve the use of torture in the Inquisition to obtain evidence of heresy.
179	Alexander IV, 1254-1261. He canonized Clare of Assisi.
180	Urban IV, 1261-1264. *The highpoint of Gothic architecture, the massive Chartres Cathedral, is consecrated in 1260.
181	Clement IV, 1265-1268. *St. Thomas Aquinas begins writing the SummaTheologica, which unifies faith and reason.
182	Blessed Gregory X, 1272-1276. This conclave met for three years to elect a new pope.
183	Blessed Innocent V, 1276. He was the first Dominican pope, the papal custom of wearing a white cassock probably originated with this pope.
184	Adrian V, 1276. He died only five weeks after his election.
185	John XXI, 1276-1277. He was the first and only medical doctor to be pope.
186	Nicholas, 1277-1280. He was the first pope to make the Vatican Palace his residence.
187	Martin IV, 1281-1285.
188	Honorius IV, 1285-1287.
189	Nicholas IV, 1288-1292. He was the first Franciscan to be elected pope. *The Crusades formally end in 1291.
190	St. Celestine V, 1294. He was one of the very few popes to resign from the papacy.
191	Boniface VIII, 1294-1303.
192	Blessed Benedict XI, 1303-1304.
193	Clement V, 1305-1314. His papacy began the period known as the Avignon popes.
194	John XXII, 1316-1334. He was the second of the Avignon popes.
195	Benedict XII, 1335-1342.
196	Clement VI, 1342-1352. He advanced the practice of indulgences, the abuse of which would contribute to the Protestant Reformation 200 years later. *The bubonic plague kills one-third of Europe's population between 1348 and 1350.
197	Innocent VI, 1352-1362.
198	Blessed Urban V, 1362-1370.
199	Gregory XI, 1371-1378. Persuaded by Saint Catherine of Siena to return the seat of the papacy to Rome, he was the last of the Avignon popes.
200	Urban VI, 1378-1389. He was the last non-cardinal to be elected pope. The years 1378-1417 are known as "the Great Western Schism," a period of crisis when rival popes claimed papal authority.
201	Boniface IX, 1389-1404.
202	Innocent VII, 1404-1406.
203	Gregory XII, 1406-1415.
204	Martin V, 1417-1431. His election to the papacy marked the end of the Great Western Schism.
205	Eugene IV, 1431-1447. He was unsuccessful in trying to reestablish union between Latin and Greek Churches.
206	Nicholas V, 1447-1455. He was the first of the Renaissance popes and a strong patron of the arts.
207	Callistus III, 1455-1458. He was the first Spanish pope. He reopened the case of Joan of Arc and declared her innocent of witchcraft. *The Gutenberg Bible is printed.
208	Pius II, 1458-1464. He canonized Catherine of Siena.
209	Paul II, 1464-1471. He reneged on promise to reform the Church.
210	Sixtus IV, 1471-1484. He built the Sistine Chapel.
211	Innocent VIII, 1484-1492.
212	Alexander VI, 1492-1503. *Christopher Columbus lands in America.
213	Pius III, 1503. He died only seventeen days after his consecration as pope.
214	Julius II, 1503-1513. He commissioned plans for the new St. Peter's Basilica.
215	Leo X, 1513-1521. The Protestant Reformation began during Leo's pontificate.
216	Adrian VI, 1522-1523. He was the first pope of the Catholic Counter-Reformation.
217	Clement VII, 1523-1534. Clement is the pope who refused to grant King Henry VIII a divorce from Catherine of Aragon.
218	Paul III, 1534-1549. He convened the Council of Trent and worked for Church renewal. *In 1543, Copernicus disputes that Earth is the center of the universe.
219	Julius III, 1550-1555.
220	Marcellus II, 1555. He died of a stroke less than one month after election to papacy.
221	Paul IV, 1555-1559. He is the pope who created the Index of Forbidden Books.
222	Pius V, 1559-1565. He reconvened the Council of Trent, after it had been suspended for ten years.
223	St. Pius V, 1566-1572. He enforced the decrees of the Council of Trent and published the Roman Catechism.
224	Gregory XIII, 1572-1585. He adopted the Gregorian calendar, which is still in use today. He also was a strong supporter of the missions in India, China, and Japan.
225	Sixtus V, 1585-1590. He reorganized the Roman Curia, which then remained unchanged until Vatican II.
226	Urban VII, 1590. He died of malaria, one week after his election.
227	Gregory XIV, 1590-1591.
228	Innocent IX, 1591.
229	Clement VIII, 1592-1605. He was the fourth pope elected within a period of 1 1/2 years.
230	Leo XI, 1605. In poor health when elected pope, he died less than one month after the election.
231	Paul V, 1605-1621. Known for his positive accomplishments in Church renewal, ironically, he is best remembered as the pope who censured Galileo for teaching the Earth revolves around the sun.
232	Gregory XV, 1621-1623. He introduced the idea of electing a pope by secret ballot. He also canonized Teresa of Avila, Ignatius of Loyola, and Francis Xavier.
233	Urban VIII, 1623-1644. He is the pope who consecrated the new St. Peter's Basilica.
234	Innocent X, 1644-1655.
235	Alexander VII, 1655-1667. He allowed missionaries in China to use Chinese rites. *In 1666, Newton discovers the Law of Gravity.
236	Clement IX, 1667-1669.
237	Clement X, 1670-1676.
238	Blessed Innocent XI, 1676-1689. He is widely admired for positive contributions to preaching and catechesis.
239	Alexander VIII, 1689-1691.
240	Innocent XII, 1691-1700. Known and respected as a reformist pope, especially in simplifying administrative procedures.
241	Clement XI, 1700-1721. He is the pope who made the feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8) a universal holy day of obligation.
242	Innocent XIII, 1721-1724.
243	Benedict XIII, 1724-1730.
244	Clement XII, 1730-1740.
245	Benedict XIV, 1740-1758. He is the author of the first papal encyclical, The Duties of Bishops.
246	Clement XIII, 1758-1769
247	Clement XIV, 1769-1774.
248	Pius VI, 1775-1799. He denounced the French Revolution and was later imprisoned by Napoleon. *The American Declaration of Independence is signed in 1776.
249	Pius VII, 1800-1823. *In 1804, Napoleon declares himself emperor of France.
250	Leo XII, 1823-1829. He called a Holy Year in 1825 to strengthen the bond between the papacy and Catholics.
251	Pius VIII, 1829-1830. He approved the decrees of the First Council of Baltimore.
252	Gregory XVI, 1831-1846. He was the last monk to be elected pope.
253	Pius IX, 1846-1878. His thirty-one year pontificate is the longest in history. He called the First Vatican Council, which defined papal infallibility and supremacy. *The American Civil War takes place between 1861-1865. *Charles Darwin publishes his theory of evolution.
254	Leo XIII, 1878-1903. Known for his efforts to bring the Church into open dialogue with the world, Leo XIII is considered the first of the modern popes. His encyclical "Of New Things" continues to be the standard of the Church's commitment to social justic
255	St. Pius X, 1903-1914. His papal motto was, "To restore all things in Christ." He is widely admired for lowering the age for First Communion to age seven. *In 1908, Henry Ford introduces the world's first automobile.
256	Benedict XV, 1914-1922. He is remembered as a peacemaker both within the Church and among the countries who participated in World War I.
257	Pius XI, 1922-1939. Pius XI is the first pope to use the radio as a means of pastorally reaching the world.
258	Pius XII, 1939-1958. His papacy was indelibly marked by the times--namely, World War II and the following cold war period. He devoted his energy to world peace, fighting Communism, and to Marian piety. *In 1957, the Soviet Union successfully launches the first satellite.
259	John XXIII, 1958-1963. Perhaps the most beloved of all popes, John XXIII convened the Second Vatican Council whose impact includes expanding the role of the laity, liturgical renewal, collegiality of bishops, and ecumenism. *Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring ushers in the ecology movement.
260	Paul VI, 1963-1978. He continued the work of Vatican II and became the first pope to travel around the world by airplane.
261	John Paul I, 1978. He was the first pope to take a double name. Death of natural causes ended his short pontificate of 33 days.
262	John Paul II, 1978-2005. The first Polish pope in history is also the most traveled pope in history. His extensive writings and speeches cover just about every major issue from freedom to materialism, to the modern search for meaning and the sacred, to world peace to social justice among all countries--rich and poor.