
Ian O'Donnell
6.3K posts








Protestants are often confused when Catholics say Peter was the first Pope. Let us make it simple. The Pope is the "Bishop of Rome". That is his primary office. But first, understand that the Apostles exercised episcopal authority in the early Church. Peter was the head of the Apostles, as seen throughout the New Testament. Peter eventually ministered and died in Rome. Consequent to this, he is recognized as the first Bishop of Rome. After him came Linus, then Anacletus (Cletus), then Clement, and so on. Every single successor who occupied the See of Rome inherits the same office. That is why Catholics say Peter was the first Pope - not because he carried a medieval title card that said "Pope," but because he held the office that later generations came to call the Papacy. Do you understand now? So when Catholics call Peter the "first Pope," we are saying that Peter is the first Bishop of Rome and the first holder of the office that his successor, Leo XIV now occupies today.


















Why can’t catholics understand the Solas















