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The first-century history of Christianity in Rome is shrouded in legend. It is important to the Catholic Church, in order to demonstrate primacy over the Orthodox Churches, that Peter was the first bishop of Rome and that he was followed by an unbroken line of popes down to the preset day, but there is no evidence for this. Francis Aloysius Sullivan ('From Apostles to Bishops: The Development of the Episcopacy in the Early Church') says that the consensus of scholars is that on the available evidence, the church of Rome was led by a college of presbyters, rather than a single bishop, for at least several decades of the second century. The first bishop of Rome who is firmly attested is Anicetus (157-158 CE).
So, not only is there no evidence that Peter was ever in Rome, there is no evidence that Linus was a bishop of Rome. We even find that 'The Apostolic Constitutions' says that Linus was ordained by Paul, with his successor, Clement, ordained by Peter. This tradition is more likely a clumsy attempt to have the papacy originated by both the great apostles.
What else can I help you with?
Who was the first pope after Peter?
The first pope after Peter was Pope Linus.
Who was the pope of Rome after Peter?
Linus is believed to have been the successor of Saint Peter.
Why was there such a long time between Peter and the second pope?
There was no delay. Pope Linus took office soon after the death of St. Peter.
Who did the heritage of Saint Peter belong to?
St. Linus became pope at the death of St. Peter.
Why did Peter who was a Jew choose a pagan to be the second Pope?
After St. Peter, St. Linus became pope of the Church. Whether Peter specially choose Linus is debatable since his successor was chosen in his absence: Peter was dead when Linus became pope. Popes are now elected by a conclave. At the beginning of the Church it might have been different, as Matthias had been elected by the apostles by drawing straws, but as to Linus' election, little is known about procedure. Whatever the case, Peter was a Jew only by ancestry, not by Faith, for he had become a Christian. Linus was not a pagan, but a Christian as well. Therefore, even if Peter had specifically requested Linus as the next pope, he was only choosing another Christian he felt capable of the office.
Who is the saint after Saint Peter?
There were a lot of saints immediately after St. Peter, but the pope who followed him, who was also acclaimed a saint was Pope St. Linus (67-76).
Who was the first pope who was not a martyr?
To the best of our knowledge Pope Linus, the second pope after Saint Peter, was not a martyr. However, this is uncertain as no verifiable information about his death is to be found.
Who was next pope after Pope Saint Linus?
Pope St. Anacletus (Cletus) (76-88) followed Linus.
Who are the first two successors of St. Peter as the head of the Universal Church?
The first two successors of St. Peter as the head of the Universal Church were St. Linus, who served as pope from around 67 to 76 AD, and St. Anacletus (or St. Cletus), who served as pope from around 76 to 88 AD.
Who chose Pope Gregory to be the leader of the Apostles?
Peter was chosen as the leader of the Church and apostles. Pope Gregory was chosen to be the pope and leader of the Church.
How did Linus qualify to be the second pope?
A:We can not really be sure there was ever a Pope Linus. Francis Aloysius Sullivan (From Apostles to Bishops: The Development of the Episcopacy in the Early Church) says that the consensus of scholars is that on the available evidence, the church of Rome was led by a college of presbyters, rather than a single bishop, for at least several decades of the second century. The tradition of a Pope Linus belongs to a later era, and there are even conflicting traditions as to who followed Peter as bishop of Rome.It is widely assumed that Pope Linus was the same person called Linus that we find mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:21, and therefore a companion of St. Paul. This would no doubt be a good qualification for Linus to be pope. However, even the Catholic Encyclopedia says, : "We cannot be positive whether this identification of the pope as being the Linus mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:21 goes back to an ancient and reliable source." Moreover, almost all scholars now consider Second Timothy to have been written, using Paul's name, in the second century - long after any Pope Linus would have died. Therefore, there is no good reason to believe that Paul ever knew anyone called Linus.The available evidence therefore shows that there was no bishop of Rome, or pope, until well into the second century, but even if a leading presbyter called Linus did exist in Rome, he was not the person mentioned in 2 Timothy.
How many years was Pope Linus a pope?
Pope Saint Linus' papacy lasted nine years from 67 AD to 76 AD.
