How did the first pope die?

Answer 1

The first pope, St. Peter, one of the original apostles of Jesus Christ, was executed at Rome under Nero. The aprocryphal gospel of St. Peter declares that Peter was crucified upside down. Many of the early Church fathers support this account of Peter being martyred at Rome.

Peter is considered the first pope even though the term 'pope' did not come into common usage until much later. Whether Peter was in Jerusalem, Antioch, Rome or elsewhere, he is still considered the first pope. Later, as the Church grew and a hierarchy developed. the Church established its headquarters in Rome as Rome was considered the center of the world at the time. It had good roads reaching out to the vast empire as well as ships that plied the Mediterranean. Missionaries could reach anywhere in the known world from Rome. As the pope was the highest ranking Church authority in Rome, he was automatically consider the Bishop of Rome. From 1309 until 1377 popes reigned from Avignon in France. No matter, the pope was still the pope. Once the situation was resolved, the papacy returned to Rome and the pope again resumed his position as the Bishop of Rome along with his title of Pope. Even today, should Pope Francis make the unlikely decision to move the Church headquarters to, say, Buenos Aires, Argentina, he would still be Pope and the assigned Bishop of Rome would simply be the Bishop of Rome. The Pope would be the Bishop of Buenos Aires as well as pope of the Universal Church. The Church has ample evidence that Peter did rule from Rome at some time. But even if he had never stepped foot in the city, he was still the Pope. Being Bishop of Rome is not a prerequisite for the papacy. By default, if the pope is headquartered in Rome, he is also the bishop of that diocese.

Answer 2

The first Pope is Saint Peter.It is certain that Peter died in Rome and that his martyrdom came during the reign of Emperor Nero, probably in 64. Testimony of his martyrdom is extensive, including Origen, Eusebius of Caesarea, St. Clement I of Rome, St. Ignatius, and St. Irenaeus. According to rich tradition, Peter was crucified on the Vatican Hill upside down because he declared himself unworthy to die in the same manner as the Lord. He was then buried on Vatican Hill, and excavations under St. Peter’s Basilica have unearthed his probable tomb, and his relics are now enshrined under the high altar of St. Peter’s.

Answer 3

A second-century tradition is that Saint Peter was the first bishop of Rome and therefore the first pope. This tradition says that he was executed in Rome by crucifixion, upside down.

However, there is no evidence that Peter ever visited Rome or was executed there. Writing from Rome just a few decades after Peter was supposedly the first pope, the author of the letter known as 1 Clement could have at least reinforced his message had he known that Peter had been the first bishop in his city, but seems unaware that he was ever in Rome. He only speaks in general terms about the suffering and death of Peter, displaying no knowledge that Peter had lived or died in Rome, and no knowledge of Peter having been executed: "There was Peter who by reason of unrighteous jealousy endured not one not one but many labours, and thus having borne his testimony went to his appointed place of glory."
So, if Peter was probably not the first pope, then who was? Francis A. Sullivan SJ (From Apostles to Bishops) says that most scholars, including Catholic scholars, are of the opinion that the early church of Rome was led by a group of presbyters, and that bishops were not appointed to the church in Rome until later in the second century. The earliest person known for certain to have been bishop of Rome is Pope Anicetus in the middle of the second century. According to legend, Anicetus suffered martyrdom, but there is no historical basis for this account.

For more information, please visit:

http://christianity.answers.com/church-leadership/what-do-we-really-know-about-the-apostle-peter

http://christianity.answers.com/catholicism/a-brief-history-of-the-early-popes

Answer 4

Leo I (Leo Magnus) died at 10 November 461 of natural causes.

Answer 5

he was killed by a venetian witch at her execution

Answer 6

Tradition says that St. Peter, the first pope, was crucified upside down. This is generally accepted by Catholics, Orthodox and even many main-line Protestant churches.

Answer 7

Catholic tradition tells us that St. Peter was crucified upside down in Rome under orders from Emperor Nero sometime about the year 63-67 AD.

Answer 8

His cause of death is shown as a heart attack but an autopsy was never performed. Conspiracy theories about his death abound.