@askrafiki's thread

Number of Popes and the First Pope

There have been a total of 266 Popes in the history of the Catholic Church.

The First Pope:

The first Pope was Saint Peter, one of Jesus' twelve apostles. He is considered the first bishop of Rome and the first Pope, serving from approximately 33 AD to 67 AD. According to Catholic tradition, Jesus gave Peter special authority, saying "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18).

Saint Peter's leadership and martyrdom in Rome solidified his position as the first Pope, and he has been revered as a key figure in the Catholic Church ever since.