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Apostolic succession · Popes

From Peter to Leo XIV

Follow the Holy See’s chronological list of pontificates. This shows succession in the office of Bishop of Rome; it does not mean that each pope personally ordained the next. Apostolic succession also concerns the bishops and the transmission of apostolic teaching and ministry.

How to read dates and numbering

Early dates can be uncertain. Blank dates remain unspecified; alternatives and grouped dates are preserved from the official table. Roman numerals denote months. Some beginning-date cells group election and other accession ceremonies, so these are source date labels rather than standardized tenure boundaries. Vacancies and disputed historical circumstances are not filled with invented entries.

Numbers identify listed pontificates, not unique individuals: Benedict IX appears for separate periods. This is a documented chronology, not a claim of a surviving consecration record linking every name back to Peter.

Source checked 2026-11-02. Holy See’s official list ↗ · Latest listed pontiff

Understand apostolic succession →

267 matching pontificates · Page 6 of 11

  1. 126 · Century 10

    Leo VII

    Beginning (source dates)
    ...I.936
    End
    13.VII.939
    Birthplace (source label)
    Rome

    Official record ↗

  2. 127 · Century 10

    Stephen VIII

    Beginning (source dates)
    14.VII.939
    End
    ... X.942
    Birthplace (source label)
    Rome

    Official record ↗

  3. 128 · Century 10

    Marinus II

    Beginning (source dates)
    30.X,...XI.942
    End
    ...V.946
    Birthplace (source label)
    Rome

    Official record ↗

  4. 129 · Century 10

    Agapetus II

    Beginning (source dates)
    10.V.946
    End
    ...XII.955
    Birthplace (source label)
    Rome

    Official record ↗

  5. 130 · Century 10

    John XII

    Beginning (source dates)
    16.XII.955
    End
    14.V.964
    Secular name
    Ottaviano
    Birthplace (source label)
    Counts of Tusculum

    Official record ↗

  6. 131 · Century 10

    Leo VIII

    Beginning (source dates)
    4,6.XII.963
    End
    ...III.965
    Birthplace (source label)
    Rome

    Official record ↗

  7. 132 · Century 10

    Benedict V

    Beginning (source dates)
    ...V.964
    End
    4.VII.964 or 965
    Birthplace (source label)
    Rome

    Official record ↗

  8. 133 · Century 10

    John XIII

    Beginning (source dates)
    1.X.965
    End
    6.IX.972
    Birthplace (source label)
    Rome

    Official record ↗

  9. 134 · Century 10

    Benedict VI

    Beginning (source dates)
    ...XII.972, 19.I.973
    End
    ...VII.974
    Birthplace (source label)
    Rome

    Official record ↗

  10. 135 · Century 10

    Benedict VII

    Beginning (source dates)
    ...X.974
    End
    10.VII.983
    Birthplace (source label)
    Rome

    Official record ↗

  11. 136 · Century 10

    John XIV

    Beginning (source dates)
    ...XI or XII.983
    End
    20.VIII.984
    Secular name
    Pietro
    Birthplace (source label)
    Pavia

    Official record ↗

  12. 137 · Century 10

    John XV

    Beginning (source dates)
    ...VIII.985
    End
    ...III.996
    Birthplace (source label)
    Rome

    Official record ↗

  13. 138 · Century 10

    Gregory V

    Beginning (source dates)
    3.V.996
    End
    ...II or III.999
    Secular name
    Bruno of Carinthia
    Birthplace (source label)
    Saxony

    Official record ↗

  14. 139 · Century 10

    Sylvester II

    Beginning (source dates)
    2.IV.999
    End
    12.V.1003
    Secular name
    Gerbert
    Birthplace (source label)
    Aquitaine

    Official record ↗

  15. 140 · Century 11

    John XVII

    Beginning (source dates)
    16.V.1003
    End
    6.XI.1003
    Secular name
    Siccone
    Birthplace (source label)
    Rome

    Official record ↗

  16. 141 · Century 11

    John XVIII

    Beginning (source dates)
    25.XII.1003
    End
    ...VI or VII.1009
    Secular name
    Fasano
    Birthplace (source label)
    Rome

    Official record ↗

  17. 142 · Century 11

    Sergius IV

    Beginning (source dates)
    31.VII.1009
    End
    12.V.1012
    Secular name
    Pietro
    Birthplace (source label)
    Rome

    Official record ↗

  18. 143 · Century 11

    Benedict VIII

    Beginning (source dates)
    18.V.1012
    End
    9.IV.1024
    Secular name
    Teofilatto dei conti di Tuscolo

    Official record ↗

  19. 144 · Century 11

    John XIX

    Beginning (source dates)
    19.IV.1024
    End
    ...1032
    Secular name
    Romano dei conti di Tuscolo

    Official record ↗

  20. 145 · Century 11

    Benedict IX

    Beginning (source dates)
    ...VIII or IX.1032
    End
    ...IX.1044
    Secular name
    Theophylactus of Tusculum

    Official record ↗

  21. 146 · Century 11

    Sylvester III

    Beginning (source dates)
    13 or 20.I.1045
    End
    ...III.1045
    Secular name
    Giovanni
    Birthplace (source label)
    Rome

    Official record ↗

  22. 147 · Century 11

    Benedict IX

    Beginning (source dates)
    10.III.1045
    End
    1.V.1045
    Secular name
    Theophylactus of Tusculum

    Official record ↗

  23. 148 · Century 11

    Gregory VI

    Beginning (source dates)
    1.V.1045
    End
    20.XII.1046
    Secular name
    Giovanni Graziano
    Birthplace (source label)
    Rome

    Official record ↗

  24. 149 · Century 11

    Clement II

    Beginning (source dates)
    24.XII.1046
    End
    9.X.1047
    Secular name
    Suidger, Graf von Morsleben und Hornburg
    Birthplace (source label)
    Saxony

    Official record ↗

  25. 150 · Century 11

    Benedict IX

    Beginning (source dates)
    ...X.1047
    End
    ... VIII.1048
    Secular name
    Theophylactus of Tusculum

    Official record ↗

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