Dear Crabby, How Many Popes Has There Been?

Dear Crabby, How many Popes has there been?

Thanks, Peter Counts

Dear Mr. Counts,

There have been official 266 popes since the beginning. Way back in the year 32, a man with the same name as you became the church’s first pope. Peter, whose real name is Simon, was pope until the year 67. He is now referred to as St. Peter.

Officially, the head of the Catholic Church, the pope is the most important and recognizable leader the Christian faith has.

I’ve lived through a handful of popes, but I’m sure most folks will remember St. John Paul II—the one that lived after being shot—who was pope from 1978 until 2005. St. John Paul II also visited The Pontiac Silverdome in 1987. He also met with three different U.S. Presidents over the years.

I get the feeling you’re asking because of the hoopla regarding the current pope’s visit. Pope Francis becomes the fourth pope to meet with a U.S. President. There are some interesting facts about our newest Pope:

• He is the first pope from Latin America
• He”s the first Jesuit pope
• He is the first pope born outside of Europe in more than 1,000 years
• He trained as a chemist
• He is one of five children and his parents were from Italy
• After being elected pope, he remained standing on the same level as the cardinal-electors rather than sitting in a throne
• He is 76
• He worked as a nightclub bouncer

Pope Francis, whose real name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, has started stirring things up politically. It will be interesting to hear his thoughts about the U. S. in the near future.

Therefore, to recap, 266 so far, which covers more than 2,000 years.

Sincerely,

Dear Crabby

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