This list of popes corresponds to that given in the Annuario Pontificio under the heading "I Sommi Pontefici Romani" (The Supreme Pontiffs of Rome), excluding those that are explicitly indicated as antipopes. Published every year by the Roman Curia, theAnnuario Pontificio attaches no consecutive numbers to the popes, stating that it is impossible to decide which side represented at various times the legitimate succession, in particular regarding Pope Leo VIII, Pope Benedict V and some mid-11th-century popes.
The 2001 edition of the Annuario Pontificio introduced "almost 200 corrections to its existing biographies of the popes, from St Peter to John Paul II". The corrections concerned dates, especially in the first two centuries, birthplaces and the family name of one pope.
The term pope (Latin: papa "father") is used in several Churches to denote their high spiritual leaders (for example Coptic Pope). This title in English usage usually refers to the head of the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic pope uses various titles by tradition, including Summus Pontifex, Pontifex Maximus, and Servus servorum Dei. Each title has been added by unique historical events and unlike other papal prerogatives, is not incapable of modification.
1st century
Numer ical order | Pontificate | Portrait | Name English · Regnal | Personal name | Place of birth | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
33
–
64/67
|
Saint
| Simon Peter CΙΜΗΟΝ ΚΗΦΑC (contemporary Greek) (modern Greek: Σίμων (or Συμεών) Κηφᾶς) ܫܶܡܥܽܘܢ ܟ݁ܺܐܦ݂ܳܐ | Bethsaida, Galilea | Apostle of Jesus from whom he received the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, according to Matthew 16:18–19. Executed by crucifixion upside-down; feast day (Feast of Saints Peter and Paul) 29 June, (Chair of Saint Peter) 22 February. Recognized by the Catholic Church as the first Bishop of Rome appointed by Christ. Also revered as saint in Eastern Christianity, with feast day of 29 June. | |
2 |
64/67(?)
–
76/79(?)
|
LINUS
|
Linus
|
Tuscia
| Feast day 23 September. Also revered as a saint inEastern Christianity, with a feast day of 7 June. | |
3 | 76/79(?) – 88/92 |
St Anacletus
(Cletus)
ANACLETUS
|
Anacletus
|
Rome
| Martyred; feast day 26 April. Once erroneously split into Cletus and Anacletus | |
4 |
88/92
–
97
|
Clement
|
Rome
| Feast day 23 November. Also revered as a saint in Eastern Christianity, with a feast day of 25 November. | ||
5
|
97/99
–
105/107
|
Aristus
|
Bethlehem,
Judea
| Feast day 26 October |
2nd century
3rd century
4th century
5th century
6th–15th centuries
6th century
7th century
8th century
9th century
10th century
11th century
Numer ical order | Pontificate | Portrait | Name English · Regnal | Personal name | Place of birth | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
140
|
June
1003
–
6
December 1003
|
John XVII
Papa
IOANNES
Septimus
Decimus
|
Siccone
|
Rome,
Papal States
| ||
141
|
25 December 1003
–
July
1009
(5 years+)
|
John XVIII
Papa
IOANNES
Duodevicesimus
|
Giovanni Fasano; Phasianus
|
Rapagnano,
Papal States
| ||
142
|
31 July 1009
–
12
May
1012
(2 years, 286 days)
|
Sergius IV
Papa
SERGIUS
Quartus
|
Pietro Boccapecora
|
Rome,
Papal States,
Holy Roman Empire
| ||
143
|
18
May
1012
–
9
April
1024
(11 years, 327 days)
|
Benedict VIII
Papa
BENEDICTUS
Octavus
|
Theophylactus II,
Conti di Tusculum
|
Rome,
Papal States,
Holy Roman Empire
| ||
144
|
April/May 1024
–
20
October 1032
(8 years+)
|
John XIX
Papa
IOANNES
Undevicesimus
|
Romanus,
Conti di Tusculum
|
Rome,
Papal States,
Holy Roman Empire
| ||
145
|
20
October 1032
–
31 December 1044
(12 years, 72 days)
|
Benedict IX
Papa
BENEDICTUS
Nonus
|
Theophylactus III,
Conti di Tusculum
|
Rome,
Papal States,
Holy Roman Empire
|
1st Term
| |
146 |
1 January 1045
-
31
March 1045
(0 years, 89 days)
|
Sylvester III
Papa
SILVESTER
Tertius
|
John,
Bishop of
Sabina
|
Rome,
Papal States,
Holy Roman Empire
|
Validity
of election
questioned;
considered
Anti-Pope;
deposed
at the
Council of Sutri.
| |
147
|
1
April 1045
–
10 November 1045
(0 years, 223 days)
|
Benedict IX
Papa
BENEDICTUS
Nonus
|
Theophylactus III,
Conti di Tusculum
|
Rome,
Papal States,
Holy Roman Empire
|
2nd Term;
deposed
at the
Council
of Sutri
| |
148
|
10 November 1045
–
23 December 1046
(1 year, 43 days)
|
Gregory VI
Papa
GREGORIUS
Sextus,
|
Johannes Gratianus
|
Rome,
Papal States,
Holy Roman Empire
|
Deposed
at the
Council
of Sutri
| |
149
|
24 December 1046
–
9
October 1047
(0 years, 289 days)
|
Clement II
Papa
CLEMENS
Secundus
|
Suidger
|
Hornburg,
Duchy of Saxony,
Holy Roman Empire
|
Appointed
by Henry III
at the
Council
of Sutri;
crowned
Henry III
as Holy Roman
Emperor.
| |
150
|
November 1047
–
17
July
1048
|
Benedict IX
Papa
BENEDICTUS
Nonus
|
Theophylactus III,
Conti di Tusculum
|
Rome,
Papal States,
Holy Roman Empire
|
3rd Term;
deposed
and
excommunicated
| |
151
|
17
July
1048
–
9
August 1048
(0 years, 23 days)
|
Damasus II
Papa
DAMASUS
Secundus
|
Poppo
|
Pildenau,
Duchy of Bavaria,
Holy Roman Empire
| ||
152
|
12 February 1049
–
19
April
1054
(5 years, 66 days)
|
St Leo IX
Papa
LEO
Nonus
|
Bruno,
Count of Dagsbourg
|
Eguisheim,
Swabia,
Holy Roman Empire
|
In 1054, mutualex
communications
of Leo IX
and Patriarch
of Constantinople
Michael I Cerularius
began the
East–West
Schism. The
anathematizations
were rescinded by Pope Paul VIand Patriarch Athenagoras in 1965.
| |
153
|
13
April
1055
–
28
July
1057
(2 years, 106 days)
|
Victor II
Papa
VICTOR
Secundus
|
Gebhard,
Count
of
Calw,
Tollenstein,
and
Hirschberg
|
Kingdom of Germany,
Holy Roman Empire
| ||
154
|
2
August 1057
–
29
March 1058
(0 years, 241 days)
|
Stephen IX
(Stephen X)
Papa
STEPHANUS
Nonus
(Decimus)
|
Frédéric de Lorraine,
O.S.B.
|
Duchy of Lorraine,
Holy Roman Empire
|
Sometimes
called
Stephen X. Member of the Order
of
Saint Benedict.
| |
155
|
6 December 1058
–
27
July
1061
(2 years+)
|
Nicholas II
Papa
NICOLAUS
Secundus
|
Gérard de Bourgogne
|
Château
de Chevron,
Kingdom
of Arles
|
In 1059
the College
of Cardinals
was
designated
the sole body
of pope
electors
(conlave).
| |
156
|
30 September 1061
–
21
April
1073
(11 years+)
|
Alexander II
Papa
ALEXANDER
Secundus
|
Anselmo
da
Baggio
|
Milan,
Italy,
Holy
Roman
Empire
|
Authorised
the
Norman
conquest of England
in 1066
| |
157
|
22
April
1073
–
25
May
1085
(12 years+)
|
St Gregory VII
Papa
GREGORIUS
Septimus
|
Hildebrand
O.S.B.
|
Sovana,
Italy,
Holy
Roman
Empire
|
Initiated the
Gregorian
Reforms. Restricted
the use of title "Papa"
to the
Bishop of
Rome.
Member of the Order
of
Saint Benedict. Political
struggle with German
Emperor
Henry IV,
who had to go to Canossa
(1077).
| |
158
|
24
May
1086
–
16 September 1087
(1 year+)
|
Bl. Victor III
Papa
VICTOR
Tertius
|
Desiderio; Desiderius; Dauferius
O.S.B.
|
Benevento,
Duchy of Benevento
|
Member of the Order of Saint Benedict.
| |
159
|
12
March 1088
–
29
July
1099
(11 years+)
|
Bl. Urban II
Papa
URBANUS
Secundus
|
Odo of Lagery,O.S.B.
|
Lagery,County of Champagne, France
|
Started
the First Crusade. Member of the Order of Saint Benedict.
| |
160
|
13
August 1099
–
21
January 1118
(18 years+)
|
Paschal II
Papa
PASCHALIS
Secundus
|
Raniero
O.S.B.
|
Bleda,
Papal States,
Holy Roman Empire
|
Member of the Order of Saint Benedict.
|
12th century
13th century
14th century
15th century
- R This pope resigned his office.
- B The exact birth date of Innocent VIII and almost all popes prior to Eugene IV is unknown, therefore the lowest probable age has been assumed for this table.