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Home / The popes

From Peter to Leo XIV.

Two hundred and sixty-seven bishops of Rome, one unbroken line. Some were martyrs, some were scholars, a few were scandals. Here is every one of them, with the full story of the ones who changed the most.

Jesus told Simon that he was Peter, the rock on which he would build his Church.1

Our list and dates follow the Catholic Encyclopedia’s List of Popes, which also names the antipopes who opposed them.2

For the first centuries the dates are traditional: as the same encyclopedia admits, the chronology of these early bishops of Rome cannot be determined with any degree of exactitude.3

The stories

The Niche of the Pallia in the Vatican Grottoes, directly above the place venerated as Peter’s grave: a gold mosaic of Christ behind a bronze grille.No. 1 · 32 to 67St PeterA fisherman from Galilee, a promise on a hillside, and a grave on the Vatican Hill.The Crypt of the Popes in the Catacomb of St Callixtus, Rome: a vaulted chamber where third-century popes were buried.No. 2 · 67 to 76St LinusThe second pope is a single name in a letter. That is exactly the point.The apse mosaic of the Basilica of San Clemente, Rome: a golden vine spreads from the cross across the vault.No. 4 · 88 to 97St Clement IA church at war with itself, and a letter from Rome that told it to stop.The Crypt of the Popes in the Catacomb of St Callixtus, Rome: a vaulted chamber where third-century popes were buried.No. 16 · 217 to 22St Callistus IA slave, a lost fortune, a prison mill, and a catacomb that still bears his name.An early medieval fresco of a pope in white robes with a halo, holding a book.No. 33 · 314 to 35St Sylvester IThe pope of the age when the persecutions ended. And the legends that grew up around him.An eleventh-century manuscript painting of Pope Damasus enthroned, holding a book.No. 37 · 366 to 84St Damasus IHe gave the West its Bible, and wrote poems for the martyrs’ graves.Alessandro Algardi’s marble relief in St Peter’s Basilica: Pope Leo meets Attila, with Peter and Paul in the sky above.No. 45 · 440 to 61St Leo I (the Great)The pope who met Attila the Hun and sent him home.A medieval manuscript page: Pope Gregory writes at a desk while the Holy Spirit, as a dove, speaks into his ear.No. 64 · 590 to 604St Gregory I (the Great)A monk who did not want the job, a city dying of plague, and a mission to the end of the world.The ruined stone walls of the castle of Canossa in the Apennines.No. 157 · 1073 to 85St Gregory VIIAn emperor barefoot in the snow, and a pope who died in exile.A thirteenth-century fresco of Pope Innocent III in a white mitre and red vestments, Sacro Speco, Subiaco.No. 176 · 1198 to 1216Innocent IIIThe most powerful pope of the Middle Ages, and the barefoot beggar he said yes to.A fresco fragment attributed to Giotto: Pope Boniface VIII in a tall mitre proclaims the Jubilee from a balcony.No. 193 · 1294 to 1303Boniface VIIIThe first Jubilee, a slap at Anagni, and a pope history still argues about.The Palais des Papes in Avignon: massive Gothic towers and walls in pale stone under a blue sky.No. 201 · 1370 to 78Gregory XISeventy years in France, a young woman from Siena, and three men who all claimed to be pope.A Renaissance portrait of Pope Alexander VI in profile, wearing a red cap.No. 214 · 1492 to 1503Alexander VIThe scandal of the Borgia pope, told straight.The marble monument of Pope St Pius V in the Sistine Chapel of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome: a seated statue of the pope blessing.No. 225 · 1566 to 72St Pius VA friar who never stopped living like one, a new Missal, and the battle of Lepanto.A photograph of Pope Pius IX in 1875, seated in white cassock and cape.No. 255 · 1846 to 78Blessed Pius IXThe longest reign in papal history, a dogma, a council, and the loss of Rome.A photograph of Pope Leo XIII, seated, in white cassock and red cape.No. 256 · 1878 to 1903Leo XIIIThe pope who took the side of the factory worker.A photograph of Pope St Pius X, seated, in white cassock with a pectoral cross.No. 257 · 1903 to 14St Pius XA postman’s son who let children receive Communion.A photograph of Pope Pius XII in 1951, seated in red mozzetta, wearing round glasses.No. 260 · 1939 to 58Pius XIIThe pope of the Second World War, his warnings, and the charity history is still weighing.A colour photograph of Pope St John XXIII smiling, in red mozzetta and stole.No. 261 · 1958 to 63St John XXIIIA caretaker pope who called a council and changed the century.A colour portrait of Pope St Paul VI in 1969, in red mozzetta and embroidered stole.No. 262 · 1963 to 78St Paul VIThe pope who finished the council, flew to every continent, and was misunderstood almost everywhere.A black and white photograph of Pope John Paul I smiling, 1978.No. 263 · 1978John Paul IThe smiling pope who reigned for thirty-three days.Pope St John Paul II in white vestments and mitre, arms raised in greeting at an outdoor Mass.No. 264 · 1978 to 2005St John Paul IIAn actor, a quarry worker, a priest in an occupied country, and a pope for twenty-six years.Pope Benedict XVI in white cassock, smiling, hands folded.No. 265 · 2005 to 2013Benedict XVIA professor who became pope, and then did something no pope had done in six hundred years.Pope Francis in white cassock, smiling and waving, outdoors.No. 266 · 2013 to 2025FrancisThe first pope from the Americas, and the first called Francis.Pope Leo XIV in white, smiling, outdoors.No. 267 · 2025Leo XIVA Chicago-born Augustinian, a missionary in Peru, and the 267th successor of Peter.

Every pope

Nos. 1 to 32

The apostles and the martyrs

Peter to the end of the persecutions

  1. 1St Peter Story32 to 67
  2. 2St Linus Story67 to 76
  3. 3St Anacletus (Cletus)76 to 88
  4. 4St Clement I Story88 to 97
  5. 5St Evaristus97 to 105
  6. 6St Alexander I105 to 115
  7. 7St Sixtus I115 to 125Also called Xystus I
  8. 8St Telesphorus125 to 136
  9. 9St Hyginus136 to 140
  10. 10St Pius I140 to 155
  11. 11St Anicetus155 to 166
  12. 12St Soter166 to 175
  13. 13St Eleutherius175 to 189
  14. 14St Victor I189 to 199
  15. 15St Zephyrinus199 to 217
  16. 16St Callistus I Story217 to 22Callistus and the following three popes were opposed by St. Hippolytus, antipope (217-236)
  17. 17St Urban I222 to 30
  18. 18St Pontian230 to 35
  19. 19St Anterus235 to 36
  20. 20St Fabian236 to 50
  21. 21St Cornelius251 to 53Opposed by Novatian, antipope (251)
  22. 22St Lucius I253 to 54
  23. 23St Stephen I254 to 257
  24. 24St Sixtus II257 to 258
  25. 25St Dionysius260 to 268
  26. 26St Felix I269 to 274
  27. 27St Eutychian275 to 283
  28. 28St Caius283 to 296Also called Gaius
  29. 29St Marcellinus296 to 304
  30. 30St Marcellus I308 to 309
  31. 31St Eusebius309 or 310
  32. 32St Miltiades311 to 14

Nos. 33 to 55

The age of the councils

From Constantine to the fall of Rome in the West

  1. 33St Sylvester I Story314 to 35
  2. 34St Marcus336
  3. 35St Julius I337 to 52
  4. 36Liberius352 to 66Opposed by Felix II, antipope (355-365)
  5. 37St Damasus I Story366 to 84Opposed by Ursicinus, antipope (366-367)
  6. 38St Siricius384 to 99
  7. 39St Anastasius I399 to 401
  8. 40St Innocent I401 to 17
  9. 41St Zosimus417 to 18
  10. 42St Boniface I418 to 22Opposed by Eulalius, antipope (418-419)
  11. 43St Celestine I422 to 32
  12. 44St Sixtus III432 to 40
  13. 45St Leo I (the Great) Story440 to 61
  14. 46St Hilarius461 to 68
  15. 47St Simplicius468 to 83
  16. 48St Felix III (II)483 to 92
  17. 49St Gelasius I492 to 96
  18. 50Anastasius II496 to 98
  19. 51St Symmachus498 to 514Opposed by Laurentius, antipope (498-501)
  20. 52St Hormisdas514 to 23
  21. 53St John I523 to 26
  22. 54St Felix IV (III)526 to 30
  23. 55Boniface II530 to 32Opposed by Dioscorus, antipope (530)

Nos. 56 to 142

The early Middle Ages

Missions, monks and a Europe being born

  1. 56John II533 to 35
  2. 57St Agapetus I535 to 36Also called Agapitus I
  3. 58St Silverius536 to 37
  4. 59Vigilius537 to 55
  5. 60Pelagius I556 to 61
  6. 61John III561 to 74
  7. 62Benedict I575 to 79
  8. 63Pelagius II579 to 90
  9. 64St Gregory I (the Great) Story590 to 604
  10. 65Sabinian604 to 606
  11. 66Boniface III607
  12. 67St Boniface IV608 to 15
  13. 68St Deusdedit (Adeodatus I)615 to 18
  14. 69Boniface V619 to 25
  15. 70Honorius I625 to 38
  16. 71Severinus640
  17. 72John IV640 to 42
  18. 73Theodore I642 to 49
  19. 74St Martin I649 to 55
  20. 75St Eugene I655 to 57
  21. 76St Vitalian657 to 72
  22. 77Adeodatus (II)672 to 76
  23. 78Donus676 to 78
  24. 79St Agatho678 to 81
  25. 80St Leo II682 to 83
  26. 81St Benedict II684 to 85
  27. 82John V685 to 86
  28. 83Conon686 to 87
  29. 84St Sergius I687 to 701Opposed by Theodore and Paschal, antipopes (687)
  30. 85John VI701 to 05
  31. 86John VII705 to 07
  32. 87Sisinnius708
  33. 88Constantine708 to 15
  34. 89St Gregory II715 to 31
  35. 90St Gregory III731 to 41
  36. 91St Zachary741 to 52Stephen II followed Zachary, but because he died before being consecrated, modern lists omit him
  37. 92Stephen II (III)752 to 57
  38. 93St Paul I757 to 67
  39. 94Stephen III (IV)767 to 72Opposed by Constantine II (767) and Philip (768), antipopes (767)
  40. 95Adrian I772 to 95
  41. 96St Leo III795 to 816
  42. 97Stephen IV (V)816 to 17
  43. 98St Paschal I817 to 24
  44. 99Eugene II824 to 27
  45. 100Valentine827
  46. 101Gregory IV827 to 44
  47. 102Sergius II844 to 47Opposed by John, antipope
  48. 103St Leo IV847 to 55
  49. 104Benedict III855 to 58Opposed by Anastasius, antipope (855)
  50. 105St Nicholas I (the Great)858 to 67
  51. 106Adrian II867 to 72
  52. 107John VIII872 to 82
  53. 108Marinus I882 to 84
  54. 109St Adrian III884 to 85
  55. 110Stephen V (VI)885 to 91
  56. 111Formosus891 to 96
  57. 112Boniface VI896
  58. 113Stephen VI (VII)896 to 97
  59. 114Romanus897
  60. 115Theodore II897
  61. 116John IX898 to 900
  62. 117Benedict IV900 to 03
  63. 118Leo V903Opposed by Christopher, antipope (903-904)
  64. 119Sergius III904 to 11
  65. 120Anastasius III911 to 13
  66. 121Lando913 to 14
  67. 122John X914 to 28
  68. 123Leo VI928
  69. 124Stephen VIII929 to 31
  70. 125John XI931 to 35
  71. 126Leo VII936 to 39
  72. 127Stephen IX939 to 42
  73. 128Marinus II942 to 46
  74. 129Agapetus II946 to 55
  75. 130John XII955 to 63
  76. 131Leo VIII963 to 64
  77. 132Benedict V964
  78. 133John XIII965 to 72
  79. 134Benedict VI973 to 74
  80. 135Benedict VII974 to 83Benedict and John XIV were opposed by Boniface VII, antipope (974; 984-985)
  81. 136John XIV983 to 84
  82. 137John XV985 to 96
  83. 138Gregory V996 to 99Opposed by John XVI, antipope (997-998)
  84. 139Sylvester II999 to 1003
  85. 140John XVII1003
  86. 141John XVIII1003 to 09
  87. 142Sergius IV1009 to 12

Nos. 143 to 193

The high Middle Ages

Reform, crusades and cathedrals

  1. 143Benedict VIII1012 to 24Opposed by Gregory, antipope (1012)
  2. 144John XIX1024 to 32
  3. 145Benedict IX1032 to 45He appears on this list three separate times, because he was twice deposed and restored
  4. 146Sylvester III1045Considered by some to be an antipope
  5. 147Benedict IX1045
  6. 148Gregory VI1045 to 46
  7. 149Clement II1046 to 47
  8. 150Benedict IX1047 to 48
  9. 151Damasus II1048
  10. 152St Leo IX1049 to 54
  11. 153Victor II1055 to 57
  12. 154Stephen X1057 to 58
  13. 155Nicholas II1058 to 61Opposed by Benedict X, antipope (1058)
  14. 156Alexander II1061 to 73Opposed by Honorius II, antipope (1061-1072)
  15. 157St Gregory VII Story1073 to 85Gregory and the following three popes were opposed by Guibert ("Clement III"), antipope (1080-1100)
  16. 158Blessed Victor III1086 to 87
  17. 159Blessed Urban II1088 to 99
  18. 160Paschal II1099 to 1118Opposed by Theodoric (1100), Aleric (1102) and Maginulf ("Sylvester IV", 1105-1111), antipopes (1100)
  19. 161Gelasius II1118 to 19Opposed by Burdin ("Gregory VIII"), antipope (1118)
  20. 162Callistus II1119 to 24
  21. 163Honorius II1124 to 30Opposed by Celestine II, antipope (1124)
  22. 164Innocent II1130 to 43Opposed by Anacletus II (1130-1138) and Gregory Conti ("Victor IV") (1138), antipopes (1138)
  23. 165Celestine II1143 to 44
  24. 166Lucius II1144 to 45
  25. 167Blessed Eugene III1145 to 53
  26. 168Anastasius IV1153 to 54
  27. 169Adrian IV1154 to 59
  28. 170Alexander III1159 to 81Opposed by Octavius ("Victor IV") (1159-1164), Pascal III (1165-1168), Callistus III (1168-1177) and Innocent III (1178-1180), antipopes
  29. 171Lucius III1181 to 85
  30. 172Urban III1185 to 87
  31. 173Gregory VIII1187
  32. 174Clement III1187 to 91
  33. 175Celestine III1191 to 98
  34. 176Innocent III Story1198 to 1216
  35. 177Honorius III1216 to 27
  36. 178Gregory IX1227 to 41
  37. 179Celestine IV1241
  38. 180Innocent IV1243 to 54
  39. 181Alexander IV1254 to 61
  40. 182Urban IV1261 to 64
  41. 183Clement IV1265 to 68
  42. 184Blessed Gregory X1271 to 76
  43. 185Blessed Innocent V1276
  44. 186Adrian V1276
  45. 187John XXI1276 to 77
  46. 188Nicholas III1277 to 80
  47. 189Martin IV1281 to 85
  48. 190Honorius IV1285 to 87
  49. 191Nicholas IV1288 to 92
  50. 192St Celestine V1294
  51. 193Boniface VIII Story1294 to 1303

Nos. 194 to 205

Avignon and the Schism

Popes in France, then three claimants at once

  1. 194Blessed Benedict XI1303 to 04
  2. 195Clement V1305 to 14
  3. 196John XXII1316 to 34Opposed by Nicholas V, antipope (1328-1330)
  4. 197Benedict XII1334 to 42
  5. 198Clement VI1342 to 52
  6. 199Innocent VI1352 to 62
  7. 200Blessed Urban V1362 to 70
  8. 201Gregory XI Story1370 to 78
  9. 202Urban VI1378 to 89Opposed by Robert of Geneva ("Clement VII"), antipope (1378-1394)
  10. 203Boniface IX1389 to 1404Opposed by Robert of Geneva ("Clement VII") (1378-1394), Pedro de Luna ("Benedict XIII") (1394-1417) and Baldassare Cossa ("John XXIII") (1400-1415), antipopes
  11. 204Innocent VII1404 to 06Opposed by Pedro de Luna ("Benedict XIII") (1394-1417) and Baldassare Cossa ("John XXIII") (1400-1415), antipopes
  12. 205Gregory XII1406 to 15Opposed by Pedro de Luna ("Benedict XIII") (1394-1417), Baldassare Cossa ("John XXIII") (1400-1415), and Pietro Philarghi ("Alexander V") (1409-1410), antipopes

Nos. 206 to 236

Renaissance and Reform

Splendour, scandal and the Council of Trent

  1. 206Martin V1417 to 31
  2. 207Eugene IV1431 to 47Opposed by Amadeus of Savoy ("Felix V"), antipope (1439-1449)
  3. 208Nicholas V1447 to 55
  4. 209Callistus III1455 to 58
  5. 210Pius II1458 to 64
  6. 211Paul II1464 to 71
  7. 212Sixtus IV1471 to 84
  8. 213Innocent VIII1484 to 92
  9. 214Alexander VI Story1492 to 1503
  10. 215Pius III1503
  11. 216Julius II1503 to 13
  12. 217Leo X1513 to 21
  13. 218Adrian VI1522 to 23
  14. 219Clement VII1523 to 34
  15. 220Paul III1534 to 49
  16. 221Julius III1550 to 55
  17. 222Marcellus II1555
  18. 223Paul IV1555 to 59
  19. 224Pius IV1559 to 65
  20. 225St Pius V Story1566 to 72
  21. 226Gregory XIII1572 to 85
  22. 227Sixtus V1585 to 90
  23. 228Urban VII1590
  24. 229Gregory XIV1590 to 91
  25. 230Innocent IX1591
  26. 231Clement VIII1592 to 1605
  27. 232Leo XI1605
  28. 233Paul V1605 to 21
  29. 234Gregory XV1621 to 23
  30. 235Urban VIII1623 to 44
  31. 236Innocent X1644 to 55

Nos. 237 to 255

Revolution and the modern world

From the Enlightenment to the loss of Rome

  1. 237Alexander VII1655 to 67
  2. 238Clement IX1667 to 69
  3. 239Clement X1670 to 76
  4. 240Blessed Innocent XI1676 to 89
  5. 241Alexander VIII1689 to 91
  6. 242Innocent XII1691 to 1700
  7. 243Clement XI1700 to 21
  8. 244Innocent XIII1721 to 24
  9. 245Benedict XIII1724 to 30
  10. 246Clement XII1730 to 40
  11. 247Benedict XIV1740 to 58
  12. 248Clement XIII1758 to 69
  13. 249Clement XIV1769 to 74
  14. 250Pius VI1775 to 99
  15. 251Pius VII1800 to 23
  16. 252Leo XII1823 to 29
  17. 253Pius VIII1829 to 30
  18. 254Gregory XVI1831 to 46
  19. 255Blessed Pius IX Story1846 to 78

Nos. 256 to 267

The modern popes

From Leo XIII to today

  1. 256Leo XIII Story1878 to 1903
  2. 257St Pius X Story1903 to 14
  3. 258Benedict XV1914 to 22Biographies of Benedict XV and his successors will be added at a later date
  4. 259Pius XI1922 to 39
  5. 260Pius XII Story1939 to 58
  6. 261St John XXIII Story1958 to 63
  7. 262St Paul VI Story1963 to 78
  8. 263John Paul I Story1978
  9. 264St John Paul II Story1978 to 2005
  10. 265Benedict XVI Story2005 to 2013
  11. 266Francis Story2013 to 2025
  12. 267Leo XIV Story2025

Notes

  1. Matthew 16:18, Douay-Rheims. read the chapter
  2. Catholic Encyclopedia, “List of Popes” (New Advent edition, updated to 2025). New Advent edition. newadvent.org
  3. Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Pope St. Hyginus”. New Advent edition. newadvent.org

Photographs and paintings from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each page. All photo credits.