Historical Verification · Catholic Apologetics

The Papal Succession

267 popes — 266 successors of Peter — across two thousand years of unbroken succession.

267 Popes AD 32 – Present 266 Successors of Peter
267 Total popes
93 Saints & Blessed
23 Martyrs
0 Breaks in the chain
36 Antipopes catalogued
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267 popes shown
★
Saint
†
Martyr
D
Doctor of the Church
✝
Father of the Church
⊕
Called a Council
⟳
Reformer
⚡
Controversy/Schism
★ includes both canonised saints and beatified popes
1
35 yrs
Peter
32–67
Judaea
★ † ✝
The Rock. Crucified upside-down under Nero. First Bishop of Rome.
2
9 yrs
Linus
67–76
Italy
★ †
Ordained by Peter. Mentioned by Paul in 2 Tim 4:21.
3
12 yrs
Anacletus
76–88
Greece
★ †
Also called Cletus.
4
9 yrs
Clement I
88–97
Italy
★ † ✝
Knew Peter and Paul. His letter to Corinth is the earliest exercise of Roman authority over another church.
5
8 yrs
Evaristus
97–105
Greece
★ †
6
10 yrs
Alexander I
105–115
Italy
★ †
7
10 yrs
Sixtus I
115–125
Italy
★ †
Also called Xystus I.
8
11 yrs
Telesphorus
125–136
Greece
★ †
Only 2nd-century pope whose martyrdom is historically certain — confirmed by Irenaeus.
9
4 yrs
Hyginus
136–140
Greece
★ †
10
15 yrs
Pius I
140–155
Italy
★ †
Contemporary of the Gnostic Valentinus.
11
11 yrs
Anicetus
155–166
Syria
★ †
Received Polycarp of Smyrna at Rome.
12
9 yrs
Soter
166–175
Italy
★ †
13
14 yrs
Eleutherius
175–189
Greece
★
Received Irenaeus of Lyon as emissary from the martyrs of Lyon.
14
10 yrs
Victor I
189–199
Africa
★
First Latin-speaking pope. First African pope.
15
18 yrs
Zephyrinus
199–217
Italy
★
16
5 yrs
Callistus I
217–222
Italy
★ †
Attacked by Tertullian as "Bishop of bishops" — confirming the title even in attacking it.
17
8 yrs
Urban I
222–230
Italy
★ †
18
5 yrs
Pontian
230–235
Italy
★ †
First pope to abdicate. Died in Sardinian mines.
19
1 yr
Anterus
235–236
Greece
★ †
43-day pontificate.
20
14 yrs
Fabian
236–250
Italy
★ †
Elected by a dove settling on him. Martyred under Decius.
21
2 yrs
Cornelius
251–253
Italy
★ †
Defended orthodoxy against the Novatian schism.
22
1 yr
Lucius I
253–254
Italy
★ †
23
3 yrs
Stephen I
254–257
Italy
★
Disputed rebaptism with Cyprian. Asserted Roman authority to settle the question.
24
1 yr
Sixtus II
257–258
Greece
★ †
Executed with his deacons — including Lawrence — under Valerian's edict.
25
8 yrs
Dionysius
260–268
Unknown
★
Clarified Trinitarian language against Sabellianism.
26
5 yrs
Felix I
269–274
Italy
★
27
8 yrs
Eutychian
275–283
Italy
★
28
13 yrs
Caius
283–296
Dalmatia
★
Also called Gaius.
29
8 yrs
Marcellinus
296–304
Italy
★
Died during the Diocletian persecution.
30
1 yr
Marcellus I
308–309
Italy
★
31
1 yr
Eusebius
309–310
Greece
★
32
3 yrs
Miltiades
311–314
Africa
★
First pope to reign in a Christian empire.
33
21 yrs
Sylvester I
314–335
Italy
★ ⊕
Reigned during the Council of Nicaea (325).
34
?
Mark
336
Italy
★
35
15 yrs
Julius I
337–352
Italy
★ ⟳
Defended Athanasius in exile. Asserted Rome's right to judge episcopal cases.
36
14 yrs
Liberius
352–366
Italy
Exiled by Constantius II for orthodoxy. Signed an ambiguous formula under duress — not canonised.
37
18 yrs
Damasus I
366–384
Spain
★ ⟳
Commissioned Jerome's Vulgate. First to use Pontifex Maximus.
38
15 yrs
Siricius
384–399
Italy
★
First pope to issue decretal letters as binding law.
39
2 yrs
Anastasius I
399–401
Italy
★
40
16 yrs
Innocent I
401–417
Italy
★ ⟳
Confirmed Augustine's anti-Pelagian councils. Strong assertion of Roman primacy.
41
1 yr
Zosimus
417–418
Greece
★
42
4 yrs
Boniface I
418–422
Italy
★
43
10 yrs
Celestine I
422–432
Italy
★ ⊕
Commissioned Cyril against Nestorius. Council of Ephesus 431.
44
8 yrs
Sixtus III
432–440
Italy
★
Built Santa Maria Maggiore in honour of the Council of Ephesus.
45
21 yrs
Leo I
440–461
Italy
★ D ✝ ⊕
The Great. Doctor of the Church. Father of the Church. His Tome defined the two natures of Christ at Chalcedon (451).
46
7 yrs
Hilarius
461–468
Sardinia
★
47
15 yrs
Simplicius
468–483
Italy
★
48
9 yrs
Felix III
483–492
Italy
★ ⚡
Excommunicated Acacius of Constantinople — began the Acacian Schism (484–519).
49
4 yrs
Gelasius I
492–496
Africa
★ ✝
Father of the Church. Formulated the two powers doctrine. Third African pope.
50
2 yrs
Anastasius II
496–498
Italy
Not listed as saint by New Advent.
51
16 yrs
Symmachus
498–514
Sardinia
★
52
9 yrs
Hormisdas
514–523
Italy
★
Ended the Acacian Schism. The Formula of Hormisdas — the clearest early assertion of Roman primacy.
53
3 yrs
John I
523–526
Italy
★ †
First pope to visit Constantinople. Died a prisoner of Theodoric the Ostrogoth.
54
4 yrs
Felix IV
526–530
Italy
★
55
2 yrs
Boniface II
530–532
Germany
First Germanic pope. Not listed as saint by New Advent.
56
2 yrs
John II
533–535
Italy
★
First pope to change his name at election (born Mercurius).
57
1 yr
Agapetus I
535–536
Italy
★
58
1 yr
Silverius
536–537
Italy
★ †
Deposed by Empress Theodora's agent. Died in exile on Ponza.
59
18 yrs
Vigilius
537–555
Italy
60
5 yrs
Pelagius I
556–561
Italy
61
13 yrs
John III
561–574
Italy
★
62
4 yrs
Benedict I
575–579
Italy
63
11 yrs
Pelagius II
579–590
Germany
64
14 yrs
Gregory I
590–604
Italy
★ D ✝ ⊕ ⟳
The Great. Doctor of the Church. Father of the Church. Sent Augustine of Canterbury to England.
65
2 yrs
Sabinian
604–606
Italy
66
?
Boniface III
607
Italy
8 months.
67
7 yrs
Boniface IV
608–615
Italy
★
68
3 yrs
Deusdedit
615–618
Italy
★
Also called Adeodatus I.
69
6 yrs
Boniface V
619–625
Italy
70
13 yrs
Honorius I
625–638
Italy
⚡
Posthumously condemned at Constantinople III (681) for failing to suppress Monothelitism.
71
?
Severinus
640
Italy
72
2 yrs
John IV
640–642
Dalmatia
73
7 yrs
Theodore I
642–649
Greece
74
6 yrs
Martin I
649–655
Italy
★ †
Last pope martyred. Condemned Monothelitism at the Lateran Council 649. Died in Crimean exile.
75
2 yrs
Eugene I
655–657
Italy
★
76
15 yrs
Vitalian
657–672
Italy
★
77
4 yrs
Adeodatus II
672–676
Italy
78
2 yrs
Donus
676–678
Italy
79
3 yrs
Agatho
678–681
Greece
★ ⊕
His letter defined the two wills of Christ. Council of Constantinople III.
80
1 yr
Leo II
682–683
Sicily
★
81
1 yr
Benedict II
684–685
Italy
★
82
1 yr
John V
685–686
Syria
83
1 yr
Conon
686–687
Unknown
84
14 yrs
Sergius I
687–701
Syria
★
Established Marian feasts in Rome. Refused to sign the Quinisext Council.
85
4 yrs
John VI
701–705
Greece
86
2 yrs
John VII
705–707
Greece
87
?
Sisinnius
708
Syria
88
7 yrs
Constantine
708–715
Syria
Last pope to visit Constantinople before Paul VI in 1964.
89
16 yrs
Gregory II
715–731
Italy
★ ⟳
Opposed Byzantine iconoclasm. Sent Boniface to evangelise Germany.
90
10 yrs
Gregory III
731–741
Syria
★
Last pope elected without imperial confirmation.
91
11 yrs
Zachary
741–752
Greece
★
92
5 yrs
Stephen II
752–757
Italy
Established the Papal States through the Donation of Pepin.
93
10 yrs
Paul I
757–767
Italy
★
94
4 yrs
Stephen III
768–772
Sicily
95
23 yrs
Adrian I
772–795
Italy
Longest pontificate to his time. Council of Nicaea II (787).
96
21 yrs
Leo III
795–816
Italy
★
Crowned Charlemagne Emperor on Christmas Day 800.
97
1 yr
Stephen IV
816–817
Italy
98
7 yrs
Paschal I
817–824
Italy
★
99
3 yrs
Eugene II
824–827
Italy
100
?
Valentine
827
Italy
~40 days.
101
17 yrs
Gregory IV
827–844
Italy
102
3 yrs
Sergius II
844–847
Italy
103
8 yrs
Leo IV
847–855
Italy
★
Built the Leonine Wall after the Arab sack of Rome (846).
104
3 yrs
Benedict III
855–858
Italy
105
9 yrs
Nicholas I
858–867
Italy
★ ⟳
The Great. Most forceful assertion of papal authority in the early medieval period.
106
5 yrs
Adrian II
867–872
Italy
107
10 yrs
John VIII
872–882
Italy
⚡
First pope assassinated. The Photian Schism.
108
2 yrs
Marinus I
882–884
Italy
109
1 yr
Adrian III
884–885
Italy
★
110
6 yrs
Stephen V
885–891
Italy
111
5 yrs
Formosus
891–896
Italy
112
?
Boniface VI
896
Italy
15 days.
113
1 yr
Stephen VI
896–897
Italy
The Cadaver Synod. Strangled in prison afterwards.
114
?
Romanus
897
Italy
115
?
Theodore II
897
Italy
20 days.
116
2 yrs
John IX
898–900
Italy
117
3 yrs
Benedict IV
900–903
Italy
118
?
Leo V
903
Italy
119
7 yrs
Sergius III
904–911
Italy
120
2 yrs
Anastasius III
911–913
Italy
121
1 yr
Lando
913–914
Italy
122
14 yrs
John X
914–928
Italy
123
?
Leo VI
928
Italy
~7 months.
124
3 yrs
Stephen VII
928–931
Italy
125
4 yrs
John XI
931–935
Italy
126
3 yrs
Leo VII
936–939
Italy
127
3 yrs
Stephen VIII
939–942
Italy
128
4 yrs
Marinus II
942–946
Italy
129
9 yrs
Agapetus II
946–955
Italy
130
8 yrs
John XII
955–963
Italy
Crowned Otto I Emperor. Deposed by Otto for moral failures.
131
1 yr
Leo VIII
963–964
Italy
Legitimacy disputed — the Annuario Pontificio itself notes historical ambiguity here.
132
?
Benedict V
964
Italy
133
7 yrs
John XIII
965–972
Italy
134
1 yr
Benedict VI
973–974
Italy
135
9 yrs
Benedict VII
974–983
Italy
136
1 yr
John XIV
983–984
Italy
137
11 yrs
John XV
985–996
Italy
First formal canonisation by a pope — Ulrich of Augsburg, 993.
138
3 yrs
Gregory V
996–999
Germany
First German pope.
139
4 yrs
Sylvester II
999–1003
France
First French pope. Introduced Arabic numerals to Western Europe.
140
?
John XVII
1003
Italy
~6 months.
141
6 yrs
John XVIII
1003–1009
Italy
142
3 yrs
Sergius IV
1009–1012
Italy
143
12 yrs
Benedict VIII
1012–1024
Italy
144
8 yrs
John XIX
1024–1032
Italy
145
12 yrs
Benedict IX
1032–1044
Italy
First term. Held the office three separate times — twice deposed and restored.
146
?
Sylvester III
1045
Italy
Legitimacy disputed — the Annuario Pontificio lists him without pronouncing on his validity.
147
?
Benedict IX
1045
Italy
Second term. Returned briefly before selling the papacy to Gregory VI.
148
1 yr
Gregory VI
1045–1046
Italy
Purchased the papacy from Benedict IX to end the crisis. Resigned at the Council of Sutri.
149
1 yr
Clement II
1046–1047
Germany
⟳
Reform pope installed by Emperor Henry III at the Council of Sutri.
150
1 yr
Benedict IX
1047–1048
Italy
Third term. Returned after Clement II died before being finally expelled.
151
?
Damasus II
1048
Germany
~23 days.
152
5 yrs
Leo IX
1049–1054
Germany
★ ⟳ ⚡
Great reformer. The Great Schism with Constantinople (1054) occurred under him.
153
2 yrs
Victor II
1055–1057
Germany
⟳
154
1 yr
Stephen IX
1057–1058
France
⟳
155
2 yrs
Nicholas II
1059–1061
France
⟳
Established the College of Cardinals as sole papal electors.
156
12 yrs
Alexander II
1061–1073
Italy
⟳
157
12 yrs
Gregory VII
1073–1085
Italy
★ ⟳
Hildebrand. The Investiture Controversy. Canossa.
158
1 yr
Victor III
1086–1087
Italy
★
Beatified. Listed as "Blessed Victor III" by New Advent.
159
11 yrs
Urban II
1088–1099
France
★
Beatified. Called the First Crusade at Clermont 1095.
160
19 yrs
Paschal II
1099–1118
Italy
161
1 yr
Gelasius II
1118–1119
Italy
162
5 yrs
Callistus II
1119–1124
France
⟳
Concordat of Worms 1122 — ended the Investiture Controversy.
163
6 yrs
Honorius II
1124–1130
Italy
164
13 yrs
Innocent II
1130–1143
Italy
⊕
Second Lateran Council 1139.
165
1 yr
Celestine II
1143–1144
Italy
166
1 yr
Lucius II
1144–1145
Italy
167
8 yrs
Eugene III
1145–1153
Italy
★
Beatified. Student of Bernard of Clairvaux.
168
1 yr
Anastasius IV
1153–1154
Italy
169
5 yrs
Adrian IV
1154–1159
England
The only English pope. Nicholas Breakspear.
170
22 yrs
Alexander III
1159–1181
Italy
⊕ ⟳
Third Lateran Council 1179. Canonised Thomas Becket.
171
4 yrs
Lucius III
1181–1185
Italy
172
2 yrs
Urban III
1185–1187
Italy
173
?
Gregory VIII
1187
Italy
~57 days.
174
4 yrs
Clement III
1187–1191
Italy
175
7 yrs
Celestine III
1191–1198
Italy
176
18 yrs
Innocent III
1198–1216
Italy
⊕ ⟳
Fourth Lateran Council 1215 — defined transubstantiation. Medieval papacy at its height.
177
11 yrs
Honorius III
1216–1227
Italy
Approved Dominicans and Franciscans.
178
14 yrs
Gregory IX
1227–1241
Italy
Canonised Francis and Dominic.
179
?
Celestine IV
1241
Italy
~17 days.
180
11 yrs
Innocent IV
1243–1254
Italy
⊕
First Council of Lyon 1245.
181
7 yrs
Alexander IV
1254–1261
Italy
182
3 yrs
Urban IV
1261–1264
France
Instituted Corpus Christi. Commissioned Thomas Aquinas's Pange Lingua.
183
3 yrs
Clement IV
1265–1268
France
184
5 yrs
Gregory X
1271–1276
Italy
★ ⊕ ⟳
Beatified. Second Council of Lyon 1274. Introduced current conclave rules.
185
?
Innocent V
1276
France
★
Beatified. First Dominican pope. ~5 months.
186
?
Adrian V
1276
Italy
~38 days.
187
1 yr
John XXI
1276–1277
Portugal
Only Portuguese pope. Only physician-pope.
188
3 yrs
Nicholas III
1277–1280
Italy
189
4 yrs
Martin IV
1281–1285
France
190
2 yrs
Honorius IV
1285–1287
Italy
191
4 yrs
Nicholas IV
1288–1292
Italy
First Franciscan pope.
192
?
Celestine V
1294
Italy
★
Resigned after 5 months. Canonised 1313.
193
9 yrs
Boniface VIII
1294–1303
Italy
Unam Sanctam. Died from the shock of his arrest by Philip IV.
194
1 yr
Benedict XI
1303–1304
Italy
★
Beatified.
195
9 yrs
Clement V
1305–1314
France
⚡
Moved the papacy to Avignon under pressure from Philip IV.
196
18 yrs
John XXII
1316–1334
France
Avignon papacy. Controversy over the Beatific Vision.
197
8 yrs
Benedict XII
1334–1342
France
Defined the Beatific Vision in Benedictus Deus 1336.
198
10 yrs
Clement VI
1342–1352
France
199
10 yrs
Innocent VI
1352–1362
France
200
8 yrs
Urban V
1362–1370
France
★
Beatified. Returned the papacy briefly to Rome.
201
8 yrs
Gregory XI
1370–1378
France
⟳
Returned the papacy to Rome in 1377 — urged by Catherine of Siena.
202
11 yrs
Urban VI
1378–1389
Italy
⚡
His erratic conduct triggered the Western Schism.
203
15 yrs
Boniface IX
1389–1404
Italy
204
2 yrs
Innocent VII
1404–1406
Italy
205
9 yrs
Gregory XII
1406–1415
Italy
⟳
Abdicated to end the Western Schism.
206
14 yrs
Martin V
1417–1431
Italy
⟳
Elected at Constance — ended the Western Schism.
207
16 yrs
Eugene IV
1431–1447
Italy
⊕
Council of Florence. Resisted the conciliarist movement.
208
8 yrs
Nicholas V
1447–1455
Italy
Founded the Vatican Library. Witnessed the fall of Constantinople 1453.
209
3 yrs
Callistus III
1455–1458
Spain
Rehabilitated Joan of Arc.
210
6 yrs
Pius II
1458–1464
Italy
Condemned conciliarism definitively in Execrabilis.
211
7 yrs
Paul II
1464–1471
Italy
212
13 yrs
Sixtus IV
1471–1484
Italy
Built the Sistine Chapel.
213
8 yrs
Innocent VIII
1484–1492
Italy
214
11 yrs
Alexander VI
1492–1503
Spain
Rodrigo Borgia. Most controversial Renaissance pope. The succession continued through him.
215
?
Pius III
1503
Italy
~26 days.
216
10 yrs
Julius II
1503–1513
Italy
⊕
Commissioned Michelangelo and Raphael. Fifth Lateran Council.
217
8 yrs
Leo X
1513–1521
Italy
⚡
Excommunicated Luther. The Reformation breaks under his pontificate.
218
1 yr
Adrian VI
1522–1523
Netherlands
⟳
Last non-Italian pope before John Paul II. Tried to reform the Curia.
219
11 yrs
Clement VII
1523–1534
Italy
Sack of Rome 1527. Refused Henry VIII's annulment — the English schism followed.
220
15 yrs
Paul III
1534–1549
Italy
⊕ ⟳
Called the Council of Trent. Approved the Jesuits.
221
5 yrs
Julius III
1550–1555
Italy
⊕
Continued Trent.
222
?
Marcellus II
1555
Italy
~22 days. Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli.
223
4 yrs
Paul IV
1555–1559
Italy
⟳
224
6 yrs
Pius IV
1559–1565
Italy
⊕
Closed and promulgated the Council of Trent.
225
6 yrs
Pius V
1566–1572
Italy
★ ⟳
Saint. Standardised the Tridentine Mass. Victory at Lepanto. Named Aquinas a Doctor.
226
13 yrs
Gregory XIII
1572–1585
Italy
The Gregorian Calendar reform 1582.
227
5 yrs
Sixtus V
1585–1590
Italy
⟳
Fixed the College of Cardinals at 70. Rebuilt central Rome.
228
?
Urban VII
1590
Italy
13 days — shortest completed pontificate.
229
1 yr
Gregory XIV
1590–1591
Italy
230
?
Innocent IX
1591
Italy
~2 months.
231
13 yrs
Clement VIII
1592–1605
Italy
232
?
Leo XI
1605
Italy
~26 days.
233
16 yrs
Paul V
1605–1621
Italy
The Galileo affair begins.
234
2 yrs
Gregory XV
1621–1623
Italy
Canonised Ignatius, Francis Xavier, Teresa of Ávila, and Philip Neri in one ceremony.
235
21 yrs
Urban VIII
1623–1644
Italy
The formal Galileo trial.
236
11 yrs
Innocent X
1644–1655
Italy
Condemned Jansenism.
237
12 yrs
Alexander VII
1655–1667
Italy
238
2 yrs
Clement IX
1667–1669
Italy
239
6 yrs
Clement X
1670–1676
Italy
240
13 yrs
Innocent XI
1676–1689
Italy
★ ⟳
Beatified 1956. Opposed Louis XIV's Gallicanism.
241
2 yrs
Alexander VIII
1689–1691
Italy
242
9 yrs
Innocent XII
1691–1700
Italy
243
21 yrs
Clement XI
1700–1721
Italy
Unigenitus 1713 — condemned Jansenism definitively.
244
3 yrs
Innocent XIII
1721–1724
Italy
245
6 yrs
Benedict XIII
1724–1730
Italy
246
10 yrs
Clement XII
1730–1740
Italy
Formally condemned Freemasonry.
247
18 yrs
Benedict XIV
1740–1758
Italy
The scholar pope. Refined the canonisation process.
248
11 yrs
Clement XIII
1758–1769
Italy
Defended the Jesuits against the Bourbon monarchies.
249
5 yrs
Clement XIV
1769–1774
Italy
Suppressed the Society of Jesus under Bourbon pressure.
250
24 yrs
Pius VI
1775–1799
Italy
Died prisoner of Napoleon in Valence.
251
23 yrs
Pius VII
1800–1823
Italy
⟳
Crowned Napoleon Emperor — then imprisoned by him for 5 years. Restored the Jesuits 1814.
252
6 yrs
Leo XII
1823–1829
Italy
253
1 yr
Pius VIII
1829–1830
Italy
254
15 yrs
Gregory XVI
1831–1846
Italy
255
32 yrs
Pius IX
1846–1878
Italy
★ ⊕ ⟳
Beatified 2000. Longest pontificate. Defined Immaculate Conception 1854. Vatican I 1870.
256
25 yrs
Leo XIII
1878–1903
Italy
⟳
Rerum Novarum 1891 — founded Catholic social teaching.
257
11 yrs
Pius X
1903–1914
Italy
★ ⟳
Saint. Canonised 1954. Liturgical reform. Condemned Modernism.
258
8 yrs
Benedict XV
1914–1922
Italy
World War I. Tireless peace efforts.
259
17 yrs
Pius XI
1922–1939
Italy
⟳
Mit brennender Sorge 1937 — condemned Nazism. Lateran Treaty 1929.
260
19 yrs
Pius XII
1939–1958
Italy
⟳
Defined the Assumption dogma 1950 — the only ex cathedra definition since Vatican I.
261
5 yrs
John XXIII
1958–1963
Italy
★ ⊕
Saint. Canonised 2014. The Good Pope. Called the Second Vatican Council.
262
15 yrs
Paul VI
1963–1978
Italy
★ ⊕
Saint. Canonised 2018. Closed Vatican II. Humanae Vitae.
263
?
John Paul I
1978
Italy
★
Beatified 2022. The Smiling Pope. ~33 days.
264
27 yrs
John Paul II
1978–2005
Poland
★ ⟳
Saint. Canonised 2014. First Slavic pope. 26-year pontificate.
265
8 yrs
Benedict XVI
2005–2013
Germany
First pope to resign since Celestine V. Theologian pope.
266
12 yrs
Francis
2013–2025
Argentina
First Jesuit pope. First from the Americas. Resigned April 2025.
267
?
Leo XIV
2025–
USA
First American pope. Robert Francis Prevost, OSA.
Antipopes

The Antipopes

An illegitimate claimant to the papal throne.*
The valid pope's succession continued unbroken in every case.

ANTIPOPE
Hippolytus
217–235
vs. Callistus I / Urban I / Pontian
First recorded antipope. A learned theologian who later reconciled and was martyred alongside Pope Pontian.
ANTIPOPE
Novatian
251
vs. Cornelius
Rigorist — refused absolution to the lapsed. His schism lasted into the 5th century.
ANTIPOPE
Felix II
355–365
vs. Liberius
Imposed by Emperor Constantius II while Liberius was exiled for orthodoxy.
ANTIPOPE
Ursinus
366–367
vs. Damasus I
ANTIPOPE
Eulalius
418–419
vs. Boniface I
Double election arbitrated by the emperor.
ANTIPOPE
Laurentius
498–501
vs. Symmachus
The Laurentian Schism — supported by the Byzantine court.
ANTIPOPE
Dioscorus
530
vs. Boniface II
~28 days.
ANTIPOPE
Theodore
687
vs. Sergius I
ANTIPOPE
Paschal
687
vs. Sergius I
ANTIPOPE
Constantine II
767–768
vs. Stephen III
A layman who seized the papacy by force.
ANTIPOPE
Philip
768
vs. Stephen III
One day — immediately withdrew.
ANTIPOPE
Anastasius
855
vs. Benedict III
ANTIPOPE
Christopher
903–904
vs. Leo V
ANTIPOPE
Boniface VII
974, 984–985
vs. Benedict VI / John XIV
Had his rivals murdered.
ANTIPOPE
John XVI
997–998
vs. Gregory V
Installed by the Roman noble Crescentius.
ANTIPOPE
Gregory
1012
vs. Benedict VIII
ANTIPOPE
Benedict X
1058
vs. Nicholas II
ANTIPOPE
Honorius II
1061–1072
vs. Alexander II
Imperial antipope.
ANTIPOPE
Clement III
1080–1100
vs. Gregory VII / Urban II / Paschal II
Henry IV's antipope — the most sustained imperial intrusion into the succession.
ANTIPOPE
Theodoric
1100–1101
vs. Paschal II
ANTIPOPE
Aleric
1102
vs. Paschal II
ANTIPOPE
Sylvester IV
1105–1111
vs. Paschal II
ANTIPOPE
Gregory VIII
1118–1121
vs. Gelasius II
Imperial antipope.
ANTIPOPE
Celestine II
1124
vs. Honorius II
ANTIPOPE
Anacletus II
1130–1138
vs. Innocent II
The most serious medieval antipope — held Rome for 8 years with wide support.
ANTIPOPE
Victor IV
1138
vs. Innocent II
Submitted to Innocent II after Anacletus's death.
ANTIPOPE
Victor IV
1159–1164
vs. Alexander III
Frederick Barbarossa's antipope. No relation to the previous Victor IV.
ANTIPOPE
Paschal III
1164–1168
vs. Alexander III
ANTIPOPE
Callistus III
1168–1177
vs. Alexander III
ANTIPOPE
Innocent III
1178–1180
vs. Alexander III
ANTIPOPE
Nicholas V
1328–1330
vs. John XXII
Louis IV of Bavaria's antipope.
ANTIPOPE
Clement VII
1378–1394
vs. Urban VI
Robert of Geneva. First Avignon claimant of the Western Schism.
ANTIPOPE
Benedict XIII
1394–1423
vs. Boniface IX etc.
Pedro de Luna. Most tenacious Western Schism claimant — refused all compromise.
ANTIPOPE
Alexander V
1409–1410
vs. Gregory XII
Council of Pisa claimant. Reclassified as antipope in the 20th century.
ANTIPOPE
John XXIII
1410–1415
vs. Gregory XII
Baldassare Cossa. Pisan claimant. Deposed at Constance. Later submitted to Martin V.
ANTIPOPE
Felix V
1439–1449
vs. Eugene IV
The last antipope catalogued in Church history. Abdicated voluntarily.

* Some cases required careful historical adjudication — particularly where rival claimants had genuine support within the College of Cardinals, as during the Western Schism (1378–1417). Others are self-evidently invalid, such as those claiming the papacy from entirely outside the Church's institutional life. The last claimant formally catalogued in Church history is Felix V, who abdicated in 1449. Claimants exist in every era, including today — most operate entirely outside the Church's institutional life and are never formally adjudicated.

Saint designations follow New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia and papalencyclicals.net, which reflect official Vatican lists. The ★ Saint category includes both popes formally canonised by the Church and those beatified (declared Blessed) — the latter being one formal step below canonisation. Of the 93 popes so designated, 83 are canonised and 10 are beatified.

History has always been on her side.

Explore 71 verified claims across seven centuries of Church history.

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