It is sometimes alleged that the detailed lists of alleged Popes from Apostolic times is bogus.
My reply: There are really two questions here: (1) Whether the list corresponds to real historical figures at all; (2) Whether these can rightly be called Popes.
(1) Whether the list corresponds to real historical figures at all.
Suffice it to say that these records are as worthy of respect as any other historical document. These men were the Bishops of Rome: obviously these men were, to say the least, of major interest, both to their contemporary society and to history. Would it not be extraordinary if no record had been made? Several were buried in the Catacombs in a special “Chamber of the Popes”. We have at least three extant lists from the earliest centuries, notably those of St Irenaeus (2nd Century) and Bishop Eusebius (3rd Century). They give clear information on the line from Peter to the time of the particular writer. These lists are now online for anybody to consult. The Liber Pontificalis (Book of the Popes) gives a concise biography of each, and was updated down the centuries.
Notice that St Irenaeus wrote well within the time of “living memory’ of the Apostles and the first Christians themselves. That is, there would have been plenty of vigorous men and women in their sixties and seventies who clearly remembered, as a youth, talking to men and women in their sixties and seventies, who had spoken to the first witnesses, or were the witnesses themselves. There is not a single record of anybody complaining about the bishops running their communities, or of falsely claiming Apostolic descent. On the contrary, claims to legitimacy were regularly based on direct transmission from the Apostles. There is no documentary evidence at all that Christian communities were independent or autonomous. Apostolic Succession was established and taken for granted. S. Eusebius provides the list of bishops of Rome from S. Peter, and casually mentions that, although one could do the same for any other community, it is not necessary since “they all must agree with Rome”.
(2) Whether these can rightly be called Popes.
We must avoid a common confusion. Christ expected His Church to grow. Cf. Mt 13: 31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying, The Kingdom of Heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. [This describes the internal growth of the Church] 33 Another parable He spoke to them; The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. [This describes the external effect of the Church on the rest of the world].
Revelation ceased, the Church teaches, with the death of the Last Apostle; the Catholic Church has added nothing new to the Deposit of Faith, although She never ceases to draw more meaning out of “The Faith Once Given”. Proof: the Church has coined many new words to define our thoughts and belief, many of which are not in the Bible itself. One of these, of course, is “Bible”, meaning a single bound book containing all the Scriptures, an object which did not exist before the Fifth Century AD. But there is no entirely new doctrine that was not there, at least in implicit form, from the beginning. The Faith is a unified, seamless whole; but certain questions do not arise until later centuries. When they do arise, they are dealt with, but within the framework of “The Faith Once Given”. Claims to the contrary arise from misunderstanding. For example, that favourite Catholic prayer, the Hail Mary, is lifted from the New Testament: in the first half, actually word for word.
The Church likewise grew in her understanding of what Christ actually meant when He gave the headship of the Apostles, and the Keys of the Kingdom, to Peter. It was only in the Fifth Century that the title “Pope” was applied exclusively to the Bishop of Rome. But there is the clearest evidence of his Primacy over the other Christian communities, from one who was only the third in line from S.Peter: S. Clement I, who is mentioned in Philippians 4:3, & who ruled in Rome before the death of S. John the Evangelist. His Epistle "from Clement to the Corinthians" was actually included for over two centuries in many Churches as part of Divine Scripture, and was bound into some of the earliest Codex (bound book) editions of the Bible. This was before the Canon, or official list of books in the Bible, was settled by the Catholic Synod of Hippo (393) and the three Councils of Carthage (393, 397 & 419) which all gave the list that has been followed to the present day.
Background: At the very end of the First Century, about five years before S. John the Evangelist died, the Church in Corinth had a serious dissention. They deposed the presbyters (= priests; it’s actually the same word, worn down over the millennia. Presbyteros –> presbyter –> prestre –> preost –> priest, in unbroken succession) who had previously been appointed, and they appointed some others. Thus there was a schism. Significantly, the Church in Corinth did not simply allow the situation to continue; neither did they did refer this matter to John, the last living Apostle; they appealed to Rome. The Bishop of Rome at the time was Clement. He sent the Reply known as The Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians. Both the content and the tone are very striking. Firstly, he actually apologises for his delay in replying (owing to persecution); then he castigates them for their behaviour in tones reminiscent of the most outspoken of any Mediaeval Pope. He tells them to re-instate their original duly-appointed presbyters, and tells them (in the nicest possible way) that he is sending two personal representatives to see that it is done, & to report back to him when it has been done. The text of this Epistle, although frequently referred to in the ancient literature, was lost for centuries & rediscovered in its entirety only in the Nineteenth Century. It is unfortunate that it was not available in the Sixteenth, when it would have alone been sufficient to scotch the growing misconception that each Christian community in Apostolic times was independent and autonomous, or indeed that the See of Rome was not considered authoritative even in the First Century. To repeat, I respectfully affirm to our Protestant friends that the abuses of the Sixteenth Century have long ago been rectified, while the claims made by the protestants, based on an inadequate knowledge of history, should now be laid to honourable rest.
Thanks to the internet, the Epistle of Clement, and nearly every other important Church document, is now available online. The entire text can be found on the New Advent Website.
Here are some excerpts. I ask all who read this with an open mind: is not this the voice of a Pope? If then the 3rd from Peter was able to speak like this, how can it be maintained that the Successor of Peter was not recognised until another four hundred years? +++ Letter of Clement to the Corinthians
CHAPTER 1 -- SALUTATION, AND PRAISE FOR THE CORINTHIANS BEFORE SCHISM BROKE FORTH AMONG THEM.
Owing, dear brethren, to the sudden and successive calamitous events which have happened to ourselves, we feel that we have been somewhat tardy in turning our attention to the points respecting which you consulted us; and especially to that shameful and detestable schism, utterly abhorrent to the elect of God, which a few rash and self-confident persons have kindled to such a pitch of frenzy, that your venerable and illustrious name, worthy to be universally loved, has suffered grievous injury. For who ever dwelt even for a short time among you, and did not find your faith to be as fruitful of virtue as it was firmly established? Who did not admire the sobriety and moderation of your godliness in Christ? Who did not proclaim the magnificence of your habitual hospitality? And who did not rejoice over your perfect and well-grounded knowledge? For you did all things without respect of persons, and walked in the commandments of God, being obedient to those who had the rule over you, and giving all fitting honour to the presbyters among you. You enjoined young men to be of a sober and serious mind; you instructed your wives to do all things with a blameless, becoming, and pure conscience, loving their husbands as in duty bound; and you taught them that, living in the rule of obedience, they should manage their household affairs becomingly, and be in every respect marked by discretion.
CHAPTER 42 -- THE ORDER OF MINISTERS IN THE CHURCH.
The apostles have preached the Gospel to us from the Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ [has done so] from God. Christ therefore was sent forth by God, and the apostles by Christ. Both these appointments, then, were made in an orderly way, according to the will of God. Having therefore received their orders, and being fully assured by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and established in the word of God, with full assurance of the Holy Ghost, they went forth proclaiming that the kingdom of God was at hand. And thus preaching through countries and cities, they appointed the first-fruits [of their labours], having first proved them by the Spirit, to be bishops and deacons of those who should afterwards believe. Nor was this any new thing, since indeed many ages before it was written concerning bishops and deacons. For thus says the Scripture a certain place, "I will appoint their bishops in righteousness, and their deacons in faith."
CHAPTER 44 -- THE ORDINANCES OF THE APOSTLES, THAT THERE MIGHT BE NO CONTENTION RESPECTING THE PRIESTLY OFFICE.
Our apostles also knew, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that there would be strife on account of the office of the episcopate. For this reason, therefore, inasmuch as they had obtained a perfect fore-knowledge of this, they appointed those [officers/ministers] already mentioned, and afterwards gave instructions, that when these should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed them in their ministry. We are of opinion, therefore, that those appointed by them, or afterwards by other eminent men, with the consent of the whole Church, and who have blamelessly served the flock of Christ in a humble, peaceable, and disinterested spirit, and have for a long time possessed the good opinion of all, cannot be justly dismissed from the ministry. For our sin will not be small, if we eject from the episcopate those who have blamelessly and holily fulfilled its duties. Blessed are those presbyters who, having finished their course before now, have obtained a fruitful and perfect departure [from this world]; for they have no fear lest any one deprive them of the place now appointed them. But we see that you have removed some men of excellent behaviour from the ministry, which they fulfilled blamelessly and with honour.
CHAPTER 46 -- LET US CLEAVE TO THE RIGHTEOUS: YOUR STRIFE IS PERNICIOUS.
Such examples, therefore, brethren, it is right that we should follow; since it is written, "Cleave to the holy, for those who cleave to them shall [themselves] be made holy." And again, in another place, [the Scripture] says, "With a harmless man you shall prove thyself harmless, and with an elect man you shall be elect, and with a perverse man you shall show thyself perverse." Let us cleave, therefore, to the innocent and righteous, since these are the elect of God. Why are there strifes, and tumults, and divisions, and schisms, and wars among you? Have we not [all] one God and one Christ? Is there not one Spirit of grace poured out upon us? And have we not one calling in Christ? Why do we divide and tear to pieces the members of Christ, and raise up strife against our own body, and have reached such a height of madness as to forget that "we are members one of another?" Remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, how He said, "Woe to that man [by whom offences come]! It were better for him that he had never been born, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my elect. Yea, it were better for him that a millstone should be hung about [his neck], and he should be sunk in the depths of the sea, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my little ones. Your schism has subverted [the faith of] many, has discouraged many, has given rise to doubt in many, and has caused grief to us all. And still your sedition continues.
CHAPTER 47 -- YOUR RECENT DISCORD IS WORSE THAN THE FORMER WHICH TOOK PLACE IN THE TIMES OF PAUL.
Take up the epistle of the blessed Apostle Paul. What did he write to you at the time when the Gospel first began to be preached? Truly, under the inspiration of the Spirit, he wrote to you concerning himself, and Cephas, and Apollos, because even then parties had been formed among you. But that inclination for one above another entailed less guilt upon you, inasmuch as your partialities were then shown towards apostles, already of high reputation, and towards a man whom they had approved. But now reflect who those are that have perverted you, and lessened the renown of your far-famed brotherly love. It is disgraceful, beloved, yea, highly disgraceful, and unworthy of your Christian profession, that such a thing should be heard of as that the most steadfast and ancient Church of the Corinthians should, on account of one or two persons, engage in sedition against its presbyters. And this rumour has reached not only us, but those also who are unconnected with us; so that, through your infatuation, the name of the Lord is blasphemed, while danger is also brought upon yourselves.
CHAPTER 54 -- HE WHO IS FULL OF LOVE WILL INCUR EVERY LOSS, THAT PEACE MAY BE RESTORED TO THE CHURCH.
Who then among you is noble-minded? who compassionate? who full of love? Let him declare, "If on my account sedition and disagreement and schisms have arisen, I will depart, I will go away whithersoever you desire, and I will do whatever the majority commands; only let the flock of Christ live on terms of peace with the presbyters set over it." He that acts thus shall procure to himself great glory in the Lord; and every place will welcome him. For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof." These things they who live a godly life, that is never to be repented of, both have done and always will do.
CHAPTER 57 -- LET THE AUTHORS OF SEDITION SUBMIT THEMSELVES.
Ye therefore, who laid the foundation of this sedition, submit yourselves to the presbyters, and receive correction so as to repent, bending the knees of your hearts. Learn to be subject, laying aside the proud and arrogant self-confidence of your tongue. For it is better for you that you should occupy a humble but honourable place in the flock of Christ, than that, being highly exalted, you should be cast out from the hope of His people. For thus speaks all-virtuous Wisdom: "Behold, I will bring forth to you the words of My Spirit, and I will teach you My speech. Since I called, and you did not hear; I held forth My words, and you regarded not, but set at naught My counsels, and yielded not at My reproofs; therefore I too will laugh at your destruction; yea, I will rejoice when ruin comes upon you, and when sudden confusion overtakes you, when overturning presents itself like a tempest, or when tribulation and oppression fall upon you. For it shall come to pass, that when you call upon Me, I will not hear you; the wicked shall seek Me, and they shall not find Me. For they hated wisdom, and did not choose the fear of the Lord; nor would they listen to My counsels, but despised My reproofs. So they shall eat the fruits of their own way, and they shall be filled with their own ungodliness." . . .
CHAPTER 59 -- THE CORINTHIANS ARE EXHORTED SPEEDILY TO SEND BACK WORD THAT PEACE HAS BEEN RESTORED. THE BENEDICTION.
Send back speedily to us in peace and with joy these our messengers to you: Claudius Ephebus and Valerius Bito, with Fortunatus: that they may the sooner announce to us the peace and harmony we so earnestly desire and long for [among you], and that we may the more quickly rejoice over the good order re-established among you.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, and with all everywhere that are the called of God through Him, by whom be to Him glory, honour, power, majesty, and eternal dominion, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen.