A Complete List of Popes in the Catholic Church from the Beginning to 2025

The history of the Catholic Church is not just a chronicle of buildings, councils, and theology — it is a story of people. At the heart of that story stands a singular office: the papacy. From the humble fisherman Peter to the newly elected Leo XIV, the popes have served as spiritual shepherds for over two millennia. Their voices have guided nations, defined doctrines, and stood firm in times of darkness and reform.

For many, the papacy symbolizes continuity. But for others, especially those new to understanding Christianity or Catholicism, the list of popes can seem distant or even confusing. Why does it matter who the popes were? What do they represent? How can this long line of leaders help us better understand the Church and Jesus Christ?

This article will walk you through the full outline of the popes — not just as a list of names, but as a testimony to the enduring work of Christ through the Church. From martyrdom to reform, from corruption to holiness, from ancient Rome to our modern world, the papacy has remained — not perfect, but preserved — a sign of God’s faithfulness through the ages.

Let’s begin at the beginning: with Peter.

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The Early Church and the First Popes (1st–5th Centuries)

The Catholic Church believes the first pope was Saint Peter, appointed by Jesus Himself in Matthew 16:18 — “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” Peter was martyred in Rome around A.D. 64–67, and his successors continued to guide the fledgling Christian community in the Roman Empire.

This era was marked by persecution, martyrdom, and rapid theological development. Many popes died for their faith, and their teachings laid the foundation for Christian doctrine.

Key Popes in This Era

• St. Peter (c. 32–67): The Apostle and first Bishop of Rome. Martyred under Emperor Nero.
• St. Linus (67–76): Likely ordained by Peter himself.
• St. Anacletus (76–88): Also called Cletus, he led during persecution under Domitian.
• St. Clement I (88–97): Wrote an important letter to the Corinthians, showing early papal authority.
• St. Leo I (440–461): Also called Leo the Great, he affirmed the authority of the bishop of Rome and helped define the two natures of Christ at the Council of Chalcedon.

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The Medieval Papacy (6th–15th Centuries)

During the medieval era, the pope’s influence extended beyond spiritual matters into politics, law, and education. The papacy began to take a central role in shaping the Christianized West. Though some popes were saints, others were embroiled in scandal. Still, the Church stood as a unifying force in a fractured world.

Key Popes in This Era

• St. Gregory I (590–604): Known as Gregory the Great, reformed liturgy and sent missionaries to England.
• Leo III (795–816): Crowned Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor in 800.
• Gregory VII (1073–1085): A great reformer who stood firm against imperial interference in Church matters.
• Urban II (1088–1099): Initiated the First Crusade.
• Innocent III (1198–1216): One of the most powerful medieval popes; convened the Fourth Lateran Council.
• Boniface VIII (1294–1303): Asserted papal supremacy, famously clashed with the French king.

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The Renaissance and Reformation Popes (16th–17th Centuries)

The Renaissance brought both cultural flourishing and growing corruption within the Church. This period saw the Protestant Reformation, which challenged papal authority and split Western Christianity. In response, the Catholic Church began the Counter-Reformation, with popes reaffirming doctrine and reforming internal abuses.

Key Popes in This Era

• Leo X (1513–1521): Pope during Martin Luther’s early protests.
• Paul III (1534–1549): Convened the Council of Trent to combat Protestantism and reform the Church.
• Pius V (1566–1572): Enforced reforms from Trent and excommunicated Queen Elizabeth I of England.
• Sixtus V (1585–1590): Reorganized Church administration and strengthened papal finances.
• Urban VIII (1623–1644): Known for patronage of the arts and involvement in the Galileo affair.

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The Enlightenment and Modern Era Popes (18th–19th Centuries)

The Church encountered Enlightenment skepticism, revolution, and the decline of monarchies. Popes during this time had to navigate the loss of the Papal States and a rapidly secularizing world. Yet they also developed clearer teachings on social justice and the dignity of the human person.

Key Popes in This Era

• Pius VI (1775–1799): Imprisoned by French revolutionaries.
• Pius VII (1800–1823): Crowned Napoleon but was later imprisoned by him.
• Gregory XVI (1831–1846): Opposed modern liberalism and nationalism.
• Pius IX (1846–1878): Defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception and convened Vatican I, declaring papal infallibility.
• Leo XIII (1878–1903): Promoted Catholic social teaching, especially in Rerum Novarum on workers’ rights.

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The Contemporary Popes (20th–21st Centuries)

In modern times, the popes have faced world wars, communism, secularism, and the challenge of engaging a globalized world. Several popes in this era are beloved for their humility, theological depth, and engagement with both Catholics and non-Catholics.

Full List of Contemporary Popes

• Pius X (1903–1914): Reformed liturgy and promoted frequent communion.
• Benedict XV (1914–1922): Called for peace during World War I.
• Pius XI (1922–1939): Confronted fascism and communism.
• Pius XII (1939–1958): Led the Church during World War II, controversial for his actions during the Holocaust.
• John XXIII (1958–1963): Launched the Second Vatican Council to renew the Church.
• Paul VI (1963–1978): Concluded Vatican II and promoted ecumenism and global dialogue.
• John Paul I (1978): Served only 33 days before dying unexpectedly.
• John Paul II (1978–2005): The first non-Italian pope in 455 years. Influential in ending communism in Eastern Europe and shaping a new generation of Catholics.
• Benedict XVI (2005–2013): Theologian pope who resigned — a rare act not seen for centuries.
• Francis (2013–2025): The first pope from Latin America; focused on humility, care for the poor, and ecological responsibility.
• Leo XIV (2025–present): Elected on May 7, 2025. The 267th pope, continuing the line from Peter.

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Patterns and Statistics

The history of the papacy reveals certain patterns:

• Total number of popes: 267 (as of May 15, 2025)
• Most common papal names:
  • John (21 times)
  • Gregory (16 times)
  • Benedict (16 times, including the antipope Benedict X)
  • Pius (12 times)
• Longest-serving popes:
  • Pius IX (32 years)
  • John Paul II (26 years)
• Shortest-serving pope:
  • Urban VII (13 days)
  • John Paul I (33 days)

📜 Complete Table of the Popes (1–267)

To provide a clear historical view of the Catholic papacy, here is a table listing all 267 Popes from Saint Peter to Pope Leo XIV, including their reign and country of origin:

No	Pope	Year of reign	Country of Origin
1	St. Peter	32–67	Israel
2	St. Linus	67–76	Italy
3	St. Anacletus (Cletus)	76–88	Greece
4	St. Clement I	88–97	Italy
5	St. Evaristus	97–105	Greece
6	St. Alexander I	105–115	Italy
7	St. Sixtus I (Xystus I)	115–125	Italy
8	St. Telesphorus	125–136	Italy
9	St. Hyginus	136–140	Greece
10	St. Pius I	140–155	Italy
11	St. Anicetus	155–166	Italy
12	St. Soter	166–175	Italy
13	St. Eleutherius	175–189	Greece
14	St. Victor I	189–199	Italy
15	St. Zephyrinus	199–217	Italy
16	St. Callistus I	217–222	Italy
17	St. Urban I	222–230	Italy
18	St. Pontian	230–235	Italy
19	St. Anterus	235–236	Italy
20	St. Fabian	236–250	Italy
21	St. Cornelius	251–253	Italy
22	St. Lucius I	253–254	Italy
23	St. Stephen I	254–257	Italy
24	St. Sixtus II	257–258	Italy
25	St. Dionysius	260–268	Greece
26	St. Felix I	269–274	Italy
27	St. Eutychian	275–283	Italy
28	St. Caius	283–296	Italy
29	St. Marcellinus	296–304	Italy
30	St. Marcellus I	308–309	Italy
31	St. Eusebius	309 or 310	Greece
32	St. Miltiades	311–314	Libya
33	St. Sylvester I	314–335	Italy
34	St. Marcus	336	Italy
35	St. Julius I	337–352	Italy
36	Liberius	352–366	Italy
37	St. Damasus I	366–384	Italy
38	St. Siricius	384–399	Italy
39	St. Anastasius I	399–401	Italy
40	St. Innocent I	401–417	Italy
41	St. Zosimus	417–418	Greece
42	St. Boniface I	418–422	Italy
43	St. Celestine I	422–432	Italy
44	St. Sixtus III	432–440	Italy
45	St. Leo I (the Great)	440–461	Italy
46	St. Hilarius	461–468	Italy
47	St. Simplicius	468–483	Italy
48	St. Felix III (II)	483–492	Italy
49	St. Gelasius I	492–496	Tunisia
50	Anastasius II	496–498	Italy
51	St. Symmachus	498–514	Italy
52	St. Hormisdas	514–523	Italy
53	St. John I	523–526	Italy
54	St. Felix IV (III)	526–530	Italy
55	Boniface II	530–532	Italy
56	John II	533–535	Italy
57	St. Agapetus I	535–536	Italy
58	St. Silverius	536–537	Italy
59	Vigilius	537–555	Italy
60	Pelagius I	556–561	Italy
61	John III	561–574	Italy
62	Benedict I	575–579	Italy
63	Pelagius II	579–590	Italy
64	St. Gregory I (the Great)	590–604	Italy
65	Sabinian	604–606	Italy
66	Boniface III	607	Italy
67	St. Boniface IV	608–615	Italy
68	St. Deusdedit (Adeodatus I)	615–618	Italy
69	Boniface V	619–625	Italy
70	Honorius I	625–638	Italy
71	Severinus	640	Italy
72	John IV	640–642	Croatia
73	Theodore I	642–649	Israel
74	St. Martin I	649–655	Italy
75	St. Eugene I	655–657	Italy
76	St. Vitalian	657–672	Italy
77	Adeodatus II	672–676	Italy
78	Donus	676–678	Italy
79	St. Agatho	678–681	Italy
80	St. Leo II	682–683	Italy
81	St. Benedict II	684–685	Italy
82	John V	685–686	Syria
83	Conon	686–687	Turkey
84	St. Sergius I	687–701	Syria
85	John VI	701–705	Greece
86	John VII	705–707	Italy
87	Sisinnius	708	Syria
88	Constantine	708–715	Greece
89	St. Gregory II	715–731	Italy
90	St. Gregory III	731–741	Syria
91	St. Zachary	741–752	Italy
92	Stephen II (III)	752–757	Italy
93	St. Paul I	757–767	Italy
94	Stephen III (IV)	767–772	Italy
95	Adrian I	772–795	Italy
96	St. Leo III	795–816	Italy
97	Stephen IV (V)	816–817	Italy
98	St. Paschal I	817–824	Italy
99	Eugene II	824–827	Italy
100	Valentine	827	Italy
101	Gregory IV	827–844	Italy
102	Sergius II	844–847	Italy
103	St. Leo IV	847–855	Italy
104	Benedict III	855–858	Italy
105	St. Nicholas I (the Great)	858–867	Italy
106	Adrian II	867–872	France
107	John VIII	872–882	Italy
108	Marinus I	882–884	Italy
109	St. Adrian III	884–885	Germany
110	Stephen V (VI)	885–891	Italy
111	Formosus	891–896	Italy
112	Boniface VI	896	Italy
113	Stephen VI (VII)	896–897	Italy
114	Romanus	897	Italy
115	Theodore II	897	Italy
116	John IX	898–900	Italy
117	Benedict IV	900–903	Italy
118	Leo V	903	Italy
119	Sergius III	904–911	Italy
120	Anastasius III	911–913	Italy
121	Lando	913–914	Italy
122	John X	914–928	Italy
123	Leo VI	928	Italy
124	Stephen VIII	929–931	Italy
125	John XI	931–935	Italy
126	Leo VII	936–939	Italy
127	Stephen IX	939–942	Italy
128	Marinus II	942–946	Italy
129	Agapetus II	946–955	Italy
130	John XII	955–963	Italy
131	Leo VIII	963–964	Italy
132	Benedict V	964	Italy
133	John XIII	965–972	Italy
134	Benedict VI	973–974	Italy
135	Benedict VII	974–983	Italy
136	John XIV	983–984	Italy
137	John XV	985–996	Italy
138	Gregory V	996–999	Germany
139	Sylvester II	999–1003	France
140	John XVII	1003	Italy
141	John XVIII	1003–1009	Italy
142	Sergius IV	1009–1012	Italy
143	Benedict VIII	1012–1024	Italy
144	John XIX	1024–1032	Italy
145	Benedict IX	1032–1045	Italy
146	Sylvester III	1045	Italy
147	Benedict IX	1045–1046	Italy
148	Gregory VI	1045–1046	Germany
149	Clement II	1046–1047	Germany
150	Benedict IX	1047–1048	Italy
151	Damasus II	1048	Germany
152	St. Leo IX	1049–1054	Germany
153	Victor II	1055–1057	Germany
154	Stephen X	1057–1058	Italy
155	Nicholas II	1058–1061	Italy
156	Alexander II	1061–1073	Italy
157	St. Gregory VII	1073–1085	Italy
158	Blessed Victor III	1086–1087	Italy
159	Blessed Urban II	1088–1099	France
160	Paschal II	1099–1118	Italy
161	Gelasius II	1118–1119	Italy
162	Callistus II	1119–1124	France
163	Honorius II	1124–1130	Italy
164	Innocent II	1130–1143	Italy
165	Celestine II	1143–1144	France
166	Lucius II	1144–1145	Italy
167	Blessed Eugene III	1145–1153	Italy
168	Anastasius IV	1153–1154	Italy
169	Adrian IV	1154–1159	England
170	Alexander III	1159–1181	Italy
171	Lucius III	1181–1185	Italy
172	Urban III	1185–1187	Italy
173	Gregory VIII	1187	Italy
174	Clement III	1187–1191	Italy
175	Celestine III	1191–1198	Italy
176	Innocent III	1198–1216	Italy
177	Honorius III	1216–1227	Italy
178	Gregory IX	1227–1241	Italy
179	Celestine IV	1241	Italy
180	Innocent IV	1243–1254	Italy
181	Alexander IV	1254–1261	Italy
182	Urban IV	1261–1264	France
183	Clement IV	1265–1268	France
184	Blessed Gregory X	1271–1276	Italy
185	Blessed Innocent V	1276	France
186	Adrian V	1276	Italy
187	John XXI	1276–1277	Portugal
188	Nicholas III	1277–1280	Italy
189	Martin IV	1281–1285	France
190	Honorius IV	1285–1287	Italy
191	Nicholas IV	1288–1292	Italy
192	St. Celestine V	1294	Italy
193	Boniface VIII	1294–1303	Italy
194	Blessed Benedict XI	1303–1304	Italy
195	Clement V	1305–1314	France
196	John XXII	1316–1334	France
197	Benedict XII	1334–1342	France
198	Clement VI	1342–1352	France
199	Innocent VI	1352–1362	France
200	Blessed Urban V	1362–1370	France
201	Gregory XI	1370–1378	France
202	Urban VI	1378–1389	Italy
203	Boniface IX	1389–1404	Italy
204	Innocent VII	1404–1406	Italy
205	Gregory XII	1406–1415	Italy
206	Martin V	1417–1431	Italy
207	Eugene IV	1431–1447	Italy
208	Nicholas V	1447–1455	Italy
209	Callistus III	1455–1458	Spain
210	Pius II	1458–1464	Italy
211	Paul II	1464–1471	Italy
212	Sixtus IV	1471–1484	Italy
213	Innocent VIII	1484–1492	Italy
214	Alexander VI	1492–1503	Spain
215	Pius III	1503	Italy
216	Julius II	1503–1513	Italy
217	Leo X	1513–1521	Italy
218	Adrian VI	1522–1523	Netherlands
219	Clement VII	1523–1534	Italy
220	Paul III	1534–1549	Italy
221	Julius III	1550–1555	Italy
222	Marcellus II	1555	Italy
223	Paul IV	1555–1559	Italy
224	Pius IV	1559–1565	Italy
225	St. Pius V	1566–1572	Italy
226	Gregory XIII	1572–1585	Italy
227	Sixtus V	1585–1590	Italy
228	Urban VII	1590	Italy
229	Gregory XIV	1590–1591	Italy
230	Innocent IX	1591	Italy
231	Clement VIII	1592–1605	Italy
232	Leo XI	1605	Italy
233	Paul V	1605–1621	Italy
234	Gregory XV	1621–1623	Italy
235	Urban VIII	1623–1644	Italy
236	Innocent X	1644–1655	Italy
237	Alexander VII	1655–1667	Italy
238	Clement IX	1667–1669	Italy
239	Clement X	1670–1676	Italy
240	Blessed Innocent XI	1676–1689	Italy
241	Alexander VIII	1689–1691	Italy
242	Innocent XII	1691–1700	Italy
243	Clement XI	1700–1721	Italy
244	Innocent XIII	1721–1724	Italy
245	Benedict XIII	1724–1730	Italy
246	Clement XII	1730–1740	Italy
247	Benedict XIV	1740–1758	Italy
248	Clement XIII	1758–1769	Italy
249	Clement XIV	1769–1774	Italy
250	Pius VI	1775–1799	Italy
251	Pius VII	1800–1823	Italy
252	Leo XII	1823–1829	Italy
253	Pius VIII	1829–1830	Italy
254	Gregory XVI	1831–1846	Italy
255	Blessed Pius IX	1846–1878	Italy
256	Leo XIII	1878–1903	Italy
257	St. Pius X	1903–1914	Italy
258	Benedict XV	1914–1922	Italy
259	Pius XI	1922–1939	Italy
260	Pius XII	1939–1958	Italy
261	St. John XXIII	1958–1963	Italy
262	St. Paul VI	1963–1978	Italy
263	John Paul I	1978	Italy
264	St. John Paul II	1978–2005	Poland
265	Benedict XVI	2005–2013	Germany
266	Francis	2013–2025	Argentina
267	Leo XIV	2025–	Italy

🌍 Distribution of Popes by Origin

Country	Number of Popes
Italy	217
France	17
Greece	9
Syria	7
Germany	4
Africa (Tunisia)	3
Holy Land	3
Croatia	2
Spain	2
Portugal	2
Turkey	2
Austria	1
Netherlands	1
England	1
Poland	1
Argentina	1
United States	1

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Why This History Matters

The list of popes is not merely a historical record; it is a spiritual inheritance. Every pope, in his own strengths and weaknesses, points back to the promise Jesus made: “I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).

From martyrdom to modern media, from ancient basilicas to digital evangelization, the papacy has endured because Christ remains faithful. It reminds us that the Church is not a human invention, but a divine mission — carried on through imperfect men, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Whether you are Catholic, curious, or skeptical, consider this: in a world where everything shifts, there has been a voice — sometimes bold, sometimes broken — proclaiming Christ for nearly 2,000 years. That voice echoes still.

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Final Reflection: More Than a Line of Men

The popes are not the Church’s glory — Jesus is. But their long, unbroken line from Peter to today is a powerful witness to His enduring presence. When you read the names of the popes, don’t just see leaders. See a story — of faith, of trial, of triumph — that still invites you in.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” — Hebrews 13:8

He remains. And through every pope, He still speaks. Will you listen?