# Papal Succession

> A sourced visualization of every pope from Peter to Leo XIV, using the Holy See's Pontiffs table for pontificate dates, secular names, birthplaces, and order.

Total popes tracked: 267. Total succession links: 266.

## Core pages
- [Succession home](https://popes-io.netlify.app/): interactive timeline and local succession context for all popes.
- [Start here](https://popes-io.netlify.app/start-here): beginner guide to the timeline, evidence labels, and eras.
- [Directory](https://popes-io.netlify.app/directory): searchable index of every pope.
- [Antipopes](https://popes-io.netlify.app/antipopes): plan for disputed claimants as a separate layer.
- [Methodology](https://popes-io.netlify.app/about): source policy and caveats for early traditional dates.
- [Support](https://popes-io.netlify.app/support): support options for richer notes and future research layers.

## Data
- [Popes JSON](https://popes-io.netlify.app/api/people.json): full structured data for all 267 popes.
- [Succession JSON](https://popes-io.netlify.app/api/relationships.json): all 266 immediate succession links.

## Major popes
- [Peter (c. 30 – 64 or 67)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-peter): The 1st pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from c. 30 to 64 or 67. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Bethsaida of Galilee.
- [Linus (68 – 79)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-linus): The 2nd pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 68 to 79. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Tuscia.
- [Anacletus or Cletus (80 – 92)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-anacletus-or-cletus): The 3rd pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 80 to 92. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Rome.
- [Clement (92 – 99)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-clement): The 4th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 92 to 99. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Rome.
- [Evaristus (99 or 96 – 108)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-evaristus): The 5th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 99 or 96 to 108. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Greece.
- [Alexander I (108 or 109 – 116 or 119)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-alexander-i): The 6th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 108 or 109 to 116 or 119. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Rome.
- [Sixtus I (117 or 119 – 126 or 128)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-sixtus-i): The 7th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 117 or 119 to 126 or 128. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Rome.
- [Telesphorus (127 or 128 – 137 or 138)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-telesphorus): The 8th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 127 or 128 to 137 or 138. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Greece.
- [Hyginus (138 – 142 or 149)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-hyginus): The 9th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 138 to 142 or 149. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Greece.
- [Pius I (142 or 146 – 157 or 161)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-pius-i): The 10th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 142 or 146 to 157 or 161. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Aquileia.
- [Damasus I (1.X.366 – 11.XII.384)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-damasus-i): The 37th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 1.X.366 to 11.XII.384. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Rome.
- [Leo I (29.IX.440 – 10.XI.461)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-leo-i): The 45th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 29.IX.440 to 10.XI.461. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Tuscia.
- [Gelasius I (1.III.492 – 21.XI.496)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-gelasius-i): The 49th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 1.III.492 to 21.XI.496. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Africa.
- [Gregory I (3.IX.590 – 12.III.604)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-gregory-i): The 64th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 3.IX.590 to 12.III.604. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Rome.
- [Leo III (26, 27.XII.795 – 12.VI.816)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-leo-iii): The 96th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 26, 27.XII.795 to 12.VI.816. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Rome.
- [Nicholas I (24.IV.858 – 13.XI.867)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-nicholas-i): The 105th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 24.IV.858 to 13.XI.867. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Rome.
- [Gregory VII (22.IV, 30.VI.1073 – 25.V.1085)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-gregory-vii): The 157th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 22.IV, 30.VI.1073 to 25.V.1085. His secular name is listed as Ildebrando. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Tuscia.
- [Urban II (12.III.1088 – 29.VII.1099)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-urban-ii): The 159th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 12.III.1088 to 29.VII.1099. His secular name is listed as Odo of Lagery. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Châtillon-sur-Marne.
- [Innocent III (8.I, 22.II.1198 – 16.VII.1216)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-innocent-iii): The 176th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 8.I, 22.II.1198 to 16.VII.1216. His secular name is listed as Lotario dei conti di Segni. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Gavignano (Rome).
- [Boniface VIII (24.XII.1294, 23.I.1295 – 11.X.1303)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-boniface-viii): The 193rd pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 24.XII.1294, 23.I.1295 to 11.X.1303. His secular name is listed as Benedetto Caetani. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Anagni.
- [Pius V (7, 17.I.1566 – 1.V.1572)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-pius-v): The 225th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 7, 17.I.1566 to 1.V.1572. His secular name is listed as Antonio (Michele) Ghisleri. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Bosco (Alessandria).
- [Benedict XIV (17, 22.VIII.1740 – 3.V.1758)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-benedict-xiv): The 247th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 17, 22.VIII.1740 to 3.V.1758. His secular name is listed as Prospero Lambertini. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Bologna.
- [Pius IX (16, 21.VI.1846 – 7.II.1878)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-pius-ix): The 255th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 16, 21.VI.1846 to 7.II.1878. His secular name is listed as Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Senigallia.
- [Leo XIII (20.II, 3.III.1878 – 20.VII.1903)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-leo-xiii): The 256th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 20.II, 3.III.1878 to 20.VII.1903. His secular name is listed as Vincenzo Gioacchino Pecci. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Carpineto Romano.
- [Pius X (4, 9.VIII.1903 – 20.VIII.1914)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-pius-x): The 257th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 4, 9.VIII.1903 to 20.VIII.1914. His secular name is listed as Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Riese (Treviso).
- [Benedict XV (3, 6.IX.1914 – 22.I.1922)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-benedict-xv): The 258th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 3, 6.IX.1914 to 22.I.1922. His secular name is listed as Giacomo della Chiesa.
- [Pius XI (6, 12.II.1922 – 10.II.1939)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-pius-xi): The 259th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 6, 12.II.1922 to 10.II.1939. His secular name is listed as Achille Ratti. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Desio (Milan).
- [Pius XII (2, 12.III.1939 – 9.X.1958)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-pius-xii): The 260th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 2, 12.III.1939 to 9.X.1958. His secular name is listed as Eugenio Pacelli. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Rome.
- [John XXIII (28.X, 4.XI.1958 – 3.VI.1963)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-john-xxiii): The 261st pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 28.X, 4.XI.1958 to 3.VI.1963. His secular name is listed as Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Sotto il Monte (Bergamo).
- [Paul VI (21, 30.VI.1963 – 6.VIII.1978)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-paul-vi): The 262nd pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 21, 30.VI.1963 to 6.VIII.1978. His secular name is listed as Giovanni Battista Montini. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Concesio (Brescia).
- [John Paul I (26.VIII, 3.IX.1978 – 28.IX.1978)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-john-paul-i): The 263rd pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 26.VIII, 3.IX.1978 to 28.IX.1978. His secular name is listed as Albino Luciani. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Forno di Canale (Belluno).
- [John Paul II (16, 22.X.1978 – 2.IV.2005)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-john-paul-ii): The 264th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 16, 22.X.1978 to 2.IV.2005. His secular name is listed as Karol Wojtyła. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Wadowice (Kraków).
- [Benedict XVI (19, 24.IV.2005 – 28.II.2013)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-benedict-xvi): The 265th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 19, 24.IV.2005 to 28.II.2013. His secular name is listed as Joseph Ratzinger. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Marktl am Inn (Bavaria).
- [Francis (13, 19.III.2013 – 21.IV.2025)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-francis): The 266th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 13, 19.III.2013 to 21.IV.2025. His secular name is listed as Jorge Mario Bergoglio. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Buenos Aires (Argentina).
- [Leo XIV (8, 18.V.2025 – present)](https://popes-io.netlify.app/popes/pope-leo-xiv): The 267th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 8, 18.V.2025 to present. His secular name is listed as Robert Francis Prevost. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Chicago.