By Nick Bibile
The claim that the Pope is the successor of the Apostle Peter rests on the assumption that Peter was the first bishop of Rome. However, this claim is historically and biblically disputed, and there is no conclusive proof that Peter ever held such an office in Rome.
In Acts 28:30, we read that the Apostle Paul spent two full years in Rome, “welcoming all who came to him.” Yet in Paul’s writings from Rome, there is no mention of Peter being there. If Peter had been serving as the supreme leader or “first pope” in Rome, it is reasonable to expect that Paul would have acknowledged him—but he does not.
If Peter had been divinely appointed as supreme head of the Church, we would expect the other apostles to recognize and submit to this authority. However, Scripture presents a different picture.
At the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, Peter speaks, but he does not preside. It is James—not Peter—who gives the final judgment and conclusion (Acts 15:13–21). This suggests a shared leadership rather than a centralized authority in Peter.
Further, in Galatians 2:9, Paul refers to James, Peter (Cephas), and John as “pillars,” placing James first. In Acts 21:18, Paul specifically visits James and the elders—again highlighting James’ leadership role.
According to Roman Catholic teaching, the Pope is infallible in matters of faith and morals. Yet in Galatians 2:11, Paul openly rebukes Peter:
“I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.”
If Peter held an infallible and supreme office, such a public correction would be difficult to reconcile with that claim.
Nowhere in Scripture does Peter claim to be a pope or supreme head of the Church. Instead, he identifies himself humbly as a fellow elder:
“I… am also an elder” (1 Peter 5:1)
This self-description stands in contrast to later claims of supreme ecclesiastical authority.
Several titles attributed to the Pope raise theological concerns when compared to Scripture:
The Bible identifies Christ as the true Shepherd and Bishop of souls (1 Peter 2:25), not any human leader.
Holiness in its fullest and infinite sense belongs to God alone (Isaiah 6:3). Assigning such a title to a man risks diminishing the uniqueness of God’s holiness.
Scripture clearly states:
“He [Christ] is the head of the body, the church” (Colossians 1:18)
Peter himself affirms that Christ—not a human leader—is the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4).