pope

[jessewinner]

It is believed that the pope is elected in a direct line from??

[The Rut]

St Peter

[dfk]

The pope is not elected in a direct line from St. Peter , as it was emperor Constanine of the Roman Empire who insticted the election of the bishop of Rome.This is continued today , with the Cardinals electing the papal succession.Therefore , there is no traceable link between popes and the apostle St. Peter. The lineage to ST. Peter is only a figure of speach

[The Rut]

oh sorry I stand corrected

[jamesmans]

The link to the Emperor Constantine mentioned was actually based on a (fake) medieval document forged in the 11th Century called the Donation of Constantine. So to answer the question, the first pope, or rather bishop of rome was St.Peter, but as Catholic priests are celibate, there is obviously no blood relation.

[OnlyMe]

Jamesmans is correct, and any list of Popes will clearly show St Peter as the first.

[dfk]

The title of Pope only came into being @ the time of the Emperor Constantine (fact). It is for this reason that records of popes can be traced to this time (fact) prior to that , there are no records or history.St Peter was the leader of the religion , and not solely base in Rome , so he wouldn't be known as the first Pope/Bishop of Rome. As mentioned previously, this is a figure of speach.

[OnlyMe]

It was under Constantine that Peter became recognised as the founder of the see of Rome, but Bishops of Rome had been elected for many decades before Constantine came along. The title Pope may not have been used, but that does not mean the office itself did not exist de facto. dfk may have a particular agenda or viewpoint, but it contradicts generally accepted history and every book of reference that lists the popes.

[OnlyMe]

By the way, dfk's assertion that there is no traceable link between Peter and subsequent popes is simply wrong. St Linus, the second pope, was buried alongside St Peter, which is huge evidence to suggest the early church saw a very clear and direct link. He would also have been a student of Peter's teaching, and in the early days popes were often students of the previous pope.

[dfk]

Linus is the first 'pontiff' - derived as bridge builder. He was elected under constantine , as the ceasar took Christianity as the formal religion of Rome. Early christian doctrine was based upon the teachings of St. Paul - pauline dogma. As mentioned there is no link between Linus and Peter. Theological teachings tried to derive an apostolistic succession from Jesus to Peter and to the new religion. St Peter , was still strictly a jew , whilst St Paul derived the early forms of Christianity.Therefore the early church wanted a direct link in history to Jesus , hence the reason for succession of pontiffs. The name of Pope - meaning Father - was used laterally , in an attempt to encompass the celtic religions.