St. Linus: The First Successor of St. Peter in the Roman Catholic Church
The quiet witness who helped establish the foundation of apostolic leadership.
If you’ve ever stood in a church, opened a Bible, or heard the name “Pope,” you’ve felt the ripple of a story that began nearly two thousand years ago. It’s easy to remember the great names—Peter, Paul, John. But between those luminous figures are others whose lights still shine, though not always noticed. St. Linus is one such man.
His name is short. His legacy, often quiet. But his place in the Christian story is profound.
St. Linus was the first to follow Peter as Bishop of Rome—what we now call the Pope. In that fragile, dangerous moment after Peter’s martyrdom, Linus stepped forward to shepherd a Church without its founding apostle. Without Linus, the story of the Church might have unraveled. Instead, the flame of faith kept burning.
This article will explore who St. Linus was, his calling as pope, and why his humble leadership still matters deeply today. Because sometimes, the most important figures in history aren’t the loudest—but the most faithful.
Who Was St. Linus? — His Life and Background
A Man from the Shadows of History
Unlike Peter, Paul, or John, St. Linus does not dominate the pages of Scripture. He is mentioned only once, yet that single line in 2 Timothy 4:21 is enough to place him among the earliest believers:
“Eubulus sends greetings to you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.”
This was no accidental mention. Paul was imprisoned in Rome at the time, and he names Linus among those still standing with him in the faith. From this brief greeting, early Church Fathers concluded that Linus was already a respected member of the Roman Christian community—close enough to Paul to be named, steadfast enough to remain nearby when others had abandoned him.
Church tradition teaches that Linus was born in the region of Tuscany in Italy. He was likely of Roman or Etruscan heritage, possibly of noble birth. His name, Λίνος (Linos), is Greek in form but common across cultures in the Roman Empire, suggesting a cosmopolitan background.
Linus was among the first generation of post-resurrection believers, possibly converted through the ministry of Peter or Paul themselves. Whether he was a Roman citizen or not, he certainly lived in a city where to be a Christian was to be watched, suspected, and—at times—hunted.
Early Christian Rome: The Crucible of Faith
To understand Linus’s life, we must picture what it meant to be a Christian in Rome during the late first century. The city was the seat of the Empire—a metropolis of splendor and cruelty. Christianity was seen as a strange sect, a superstition, a threat to Roman order.
The emperor Nero, after blaming Christians for the great fire of Rome in A.D. 64, launched a brutal persecution. Christians were crucified, fed to wild beasts, or burned alive as torches for imperial parties. It was during this bloody backdrop that Peter and Paul were martyred.
And it was into this same furnace that Linus was called to lead.
St. Linus as the Bishop of Rome
The First to Follow the Rock
The Catholic Church teaches that Christ appointed Peter as the leader of the apostles, saying,
“You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church…” (Matthew 16:18)
When Peter was executed—tradition says he was crucified upside down in Rome—someone had to carry the torch. That person was Linus.
St. Irenaeus of Lyons, writing in the 2nd century, affirms this succession in his work Against Heresies:
“The blessed apostles, having founded and built up the Church, handed over the office of the episcopate to Linus. This Linus is the one mentioned by Paul in the epistles.” (Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book III, 3.3)
This quote is monumental. It shows that Linus was not only chosen by Peter, but was recognized early on as his true successor.
Linus became the second pope—the first in a long, unbroken line of successors that the Roman Catholic Church still affirms today. His papacy is traditionally dated from A.D. 67 to 76, placing it within a decade of Peter’s death and under the shadow of continuing persecution.
What It Meant to Be Pope Then
We must not imagine Linus as a pope dressed in fine robes or residing in a palace. There was no Vatican. No Swiss Guard. No basilicas filled with stained glass.
Linus’s Rome was dangerous. His papacy was underground. He would have presided over the Eucharist in secret homes, written letters by candlelight, and risked his life every day to serve a Church under siege.
Yet even without public recognition, Linus bore a sacred trust—to protect the teachings of the apostles, to shepherd the scattered flock, and to maintain the unity of the faith in the face of heresies and chaos.
His leadership, though largely silent in surviving texts, speaks volumes through its continuation. The fact that the Church survived Peter’s death and began to grow—especially in Rome—proves that Linus did his job faithfully.
The Early Papacy and Its Development
Humble Beginnings of a Global Office
Today, the papacy is a worldwide symbol. But in Linus’s time, it was barely a concept. Yet, it was beginning to form.
Linus likely oversaw the small community of believers in Rome, ensuring the sacraments were celebrated and the apostolic teachings were preserved. There was no New Testament yet—only oral traditions, letters being circulated, and a deep dependence on trusted leaders to keep the truth pure.
He would have had to deal with false teachings, Roman spies, internal divisions, and possibly theological confusion. His greatest task was not invention, but preservation.
He was the bridge between the apostles and the next generation of bishops, deacons, and elders. Through him, the apostolic authority of Peter was not lost, but carried forward.
Discipline and Worship: Traditions Attributed to Linus
According to the Liber Pontificalis, a collection of papal biographies from the 6th century, Linus decreed that women should cover their heads in church, a practice reflected in Paul’s epistles (cf. 1 Corinthians 11). Whether this decree came directly from him or was attributed later is debated, but it shows how early popes were seen as sources of discipline and order.
More importantly, Linus would have been responsible for maintaining Eucharistic worship, appointing presbyters, and nurturing unity among believers. In a fragmented and persecuted Church, these acts were revolutionary.
He didn’t just preserve structure—he helped define it.
Martyrdom and Legacy
Did Linus Die for the Faith?
While the Bible is silent on Linus’s death, early traditions suggest he died a martyr, possibly under the emperor Domitian. The Liber Pontificalis reports that Linus was beheaded, though the exact circumstances are unclear.
Even if the manner of his death cannot be confirmed, what is certain is this: Linus led a persecuted Church in a hostile empire. Every day as bishop of Rome was a risk. His courage, if not crowned with execution, was certainly marked by the daily cross of suffering.
If Linus was indeed martyred, he joins the long line of shepherds who laid down their lives for the sheep.
Burial and Feast Day
St. Linus is believed to be buried near the tomb of St. Peter at the Vatican Hill—today’s St. Peter’s Basilica. This sacred location confirms the Church’s recognition of his continuity with Peter’s mission.
His feast day is celebrated on September 23, especially in the Roman Catholic Church, where he is honored as a saint and martyr.
Though his acts may be few in number, his faithfulness is beyond question.
Historical Sources and Debates
What the Records Say
The main sources that speak of Linus include:
- 2 Timothy 4:21 (biblical mention)
- Irenaeus (late 2nd century)
- Eusebius of Caesarea (Ecclesiastical History, 4th century)
- Liber Pontificalis (compiled 6th century onward)
Irenaeus and Eusebius confirm his place as Peter’s successor. The Liber Pontificalis adds details like dates of service, cause of death, and ecclesial decisions.
While these sources vary in historical precision, they all point to the same conclusion: Linus was real, early, and essential.
Debates Among Scholars
Modern historians sometimes question the details—did Linus truly institute head coverings? Did he really die a martyr? Was he appointed directly by Peter?
Yet even among skeptics, there is widespread agreement that Linus existed, led the Roman Church, and was remembered as Peter’s first successor. Whether every tradition is exact matters less than this: the succession itself is real. The office of bishop continued, unbroken, from the apostles through Linus and beyond.
That alone makes his life priceless in Church history.
The Significance of St. Linus in Catholic Ecclesiology
Apostolic Succession: A Living Legacy
The doctrine of apostolic succession teaches that the authority Jesus gave to His apostles did not end with them, but was passed on through the laying on of hands—through bishops like Linus.
Without this succession, the Church would fracture. With it, the Church retains unity, continuity, and faithfulness.
Linus embodies this principle. He is not a legend or placeholder. He is the first living proof that the Church would not die with Peter, but continue in Christ’s power.
A Witness of Silent Strength
In a world chasing fame, Linus offers a different model. His name is not thundered from pulpits or plastered on church walls. But his legacy is engraved in the very structure of the Church.
He was not a celebrity, but a servant. Not a builder of empires, but a guardian of the Gospel.
Today, every bishop ordained, every Mass celebrated, and every catechism taught echoes his faithfulness. Because he held the line, others could carry it forward.
Conclusion: Why St. Linus Still Matters Today
So why should you care about a man who lived 2000 years ago, who left behind no writings, no miracles, and only a passing mention in Scripture?
Because St. Linus shows us what faithfulness looks like in obscurity. He reminds us that the Church is not built on fame, but on faith.
He was a quiet flame in a dark world, and that flame lit a fire that would never go out.
In an age where many question authority, truth, and the Church itself, Linus points us back to the unbroken line that began with Jesus, passed through Peter, and continued through him. He shows that God preserves His Church—not through power, but through perseverance.
And for those seeking Christ today, that same line of grace still reaches out—through the Gospel, through the sacraments, and through the witness of those who gave everything to keep the faith alive.
“The Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.”
(1 Timothy 3:15)
St. Linus bore that pillar. And by the grace of God, we stand on it still.