Our Apostolic Heritage
The National Catholic Church maintains a direct line of apostolic succession from Saint Peter to our current Patriarch. This unbroken chain of valid episcopal consecrations ensures the authenticity of our sacramental ministry and connects us directly to the early Church established by Christ.
"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." - Matthew 16:18
His Beatitude Peter Charles Francis, FSSPX, D.D.
Current Patriarch and Metropolitan Archbishop, Consecrated in 2007 by Bishop Ernest Boland
Bishop Ernest Anthony Bertrand Boland, O.P.
Member of the Dominican Order, Consecrated July 25, 1966 by Bishop Russell J. McVinney, with co-consecrators Bishop Bernard M. Kelly and Bishop Fulton J. Sheen
Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani
Consecrated in 1933. Served as Apostolic Delegate to the United States (1933-1958), later became Secretary of State of the Holy See. Created Cardinal in 1958 and served as Dean of the College of Cardinals (1972-1973)
Cardinal Raffaele Carlo Rossi, O.C.D.
Consecrated in 1920. Carmelite Order member, Secretary of the Consistorial Congregation. Created Cardinal in 1930, served as Major Penitentiary (1950-1958)
Cardinal Gaetano De Lai
Consecrated in 1911. Secretary of the Consistorial Congregation, created Cardinal in 1907. Known for his role in anti-modernist efforts
Pope Pius X (St. Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto)
Consecrated in 1884. Pope from 1903 to 1914, canonized as a Saint in 1954. Known for liturgical reforms, fight against modernism, promoting frequent communion and early communion for children. Reformed Church music and Canon Law
Cardinal Lucido Maria Parocchi
Consecrated in 1871. Served as Vicar General of Rome, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church. Notable theologian and scholar
Cardinal Costantino Patrizi Naro
Consecrated in 1828. Served as Vicar General of Rome for 37 years, Cardinal Secretary of State. Performed several papal coronations
Cardinal Carlo Odescalchi, S.J.
Consecrated in 1823. Later resigned as Cardinal to become a Jesuit. Known for his holiness and ascetic life. Served as Vicar General of Rome
Cardinal Giulio Maria della Somaglia
Consecrated in 1788. Dean of the College of Cardinals, Secretary of State under Leo XII, President of the Congregation of the Holy Office
Cardinal Hyacinthe-Sigismond Gerdil, B.
Consecrated in 1777. Barnabite Order member, notable theologian and philosopher. Prefect of Propaganda Fide, considered papabile in conclave of 1800
Cardinal Marcantonio Colonna (Jr.)
Consecrated in 1762. Member of the noble Colonna family, served as Vicar General of Rome, Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria della Pace
Pope Clement XIII (Carlo della Torre Rezzonico)
Consecrated in 1743. Pope from 1758 to 1769, known for defending the Jesuits and promoting devotion to the Sacred Heart
Pope Benedict XIV (Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini)
Consecrated in 1724. Pope from 1740 to 1758, one of the most scholarly popes. Reformed canonization process, known for diplomatic skills and learning
Pope Benedict XIII (Pietro Francesco Orsini de Gravina, O.P.)
Consecrated in 1675. Dominican Order member, Pope from 1724 to 1730. Known for personal piety and simplicity, held important Roman Synod of 1725
Cardinal Paluzzo Paluzzi Altieri degli Albertoni
Consecrated in 1666. Adopted by Pope Clement X into Altieri family, served as Cardinal Nephew and Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church
Cardinal Ulderico Carpegna
Consecrated in 1630. Served as Vicar General of Rome, Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria in Trastevere. Important role in Roman Curia
Cardinal Luigi Caetani
Consecrated in 1622. Member of the powerful Caetani family, Apostolic Nuncio to Spain. Known patron of arts and letters
Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi
Consecrated in 1621. Archbishop of Bologna, Cardinal Nephew of Gregory XV. Founded Roman College (later Gregorian University), important patron of the arts
Archbishop Galeazzo Sanvitale
Consecrated in 1604. Archbishop of Bari, noted reformer in his diocese. Implemented Tridentine reforms
Cardinal Girolamo Bernerio, O.P.
Consecrated in 1586. Dominican Order member, Grand Inquisitor of the Roman Inquisition. Important theologian
Cardinal Giulio Antonio Santorio
Consecrated in 1566. Archbishop of Santa Severina, Grand Inquisitor. Nearly elected pope in 1592. Important figure in Counter-Reformation
Cardinal Scipione Rebiba
Consecrated in 1555. Patriarch of Constantinople, important figure in Counter-Reformation. Of special historical significance as most bishops of the Catholic Church trace their apostolic succession through him
Historical Connection
The following succession list traces the papal lineage from Paul IV (consecrator of Cardinal Rebiba) back to St. Peter, the first Pope.
1555
Paul IV
1555
Marcellus II
1550
Julius III
1534
Paul III
1523
Clement VII
1522
Adrian VI
1513
Leo X
1503
Julius II
1503
Pius III
1492
Alexander VI
1484
Innocent VIII
1471
Sixtus IV
1464
Paul II
1458
Pius II
1455
Callistus III
1447
Nicholas V
1431
Eugene IV
1417
Martin V
1406
Gregory XII
1389
Boniface IX
1378
Urban VI
1370
Gregory XI
1362
Urban V
1352
Innocent VI
1342
Clement VI
1334
Benedict XII
1316
John XXII
1305
Clement V
1303
Benedict XI
1294
Boniface VIII
1294
Celestine V
1288
Nicholas IV
1285
Honorius IV
1281
Martin IV
1277
Nicholas III
1276
John XXI
1276
Adrian V
1276
Innocent V
1271
Gregory X
1265
Clement IV
1261
Urban IV
1254
Alexander IV
1243
Innocent IV
1241
Celestine IV
1227
Gregory IX
1216
Honorius III
1198
Innocent III
1191
Celestine III
1187
Clement III
1187
Gregory VIII
1185
Urban III
1181
Lucius III
1159
Alexander III
1154
Adrian IV
1153
Anastasius IV
1145
Eugene III
1144
Lucius II
1143
Celestine II
1130
Innocent II
1124
Honorius II
1119
Callistus II
1118
Gelasius II
1099
Paschal II
1088
Urban II
1087
Victor III
1073
Gregory VII
1061
Alexander II
1059
Nicholas II
1057
Stephen IX
1055
Victor II
1049
Leo IX
1048
Damasus II
1047
Benedict IX (Third time)
1046
Clement II
1045
Gregory VI
1045
Benedict IX (Second time)
1045
Sylvester III
1032
Benedict IX
1024
John XIX
1012
Benedict VIII
1009
Sergius IV
1004
John XVIII
1003
John XVII
999
Sylvester II
996
Gregory V
985
John XV
983
John XIV
974
Benedict VII
973
Benedict VI
965
John XIII
964
Benedict V
963
Leo VIII
955
John XII
946
Agapetus II
942
Marinus II
939
Stephen VIII
936
Leo VII
931
John XI
928
Stephen VII
928
Leo VI
914
John X
913
Landus
911
Anastasius III
904
Sergius III
903
Leo V
900
Benedict IV
898
John IX
897
Theodore II
897
Romanus
896
Stephen VI
891
Formosus
885
Stephen V
884
Adrian III
882
Marinus I
872
John VIII
867
Adrian II
858
Nicholas I The Great
855
Benedict III
847
Leo IV
844
Sergius II
827
Gregory IV
827
Valentine
824
Eugene II
817
Paschal I
816
Stephen IV
795
Leo III
Crowned Charlemagne as Emperor
772
Adrian I
768
Stephen III
757
Paul I
752
Stephen II
741
Zachary
731
Gregory III
715
Gregory II
708
Constantine
708
Sisinnius
705
John VII
701
John VI
687
Sergius I
686
Conon
685
John V
684
Benedict II
682
Leo II
678
Agatho
676
Donus
672
Adeodatus II
657
Vitalian
654
Eugene I
649
Martin I
642
Theodore I
640
John IV
640
Severinus
625
Honorius
619
Boniface V
615
Adeodatus I
608
Boniface IV
607
Boniface III
604
Sabinianus
590
Gregory I
Known as Gregory the Great
579
Pelagius II
575
Benedict I
561
John III
556
Pelagius I
537
Vigilus
536
Sylverius
535
Agapitus
535
John II
530
Boniface II
526
Felix IV
523
John I
514
Hormisdus
498
Symmachus
496
Anastasius II
492
Gelasius I
483
Felix III
468
Simplicius
461
Hilary
440
Leo I
Known as Leo the Great
432
Sixtus III
422
Celestine I
418
Boniface I
417
Zosimus
401
Innocent I
399
Anastasius I
384
Siricius
366
Damasus I
352
Liberius
337
Julius I
336
Marcus
314
Sylvester I
311
Melchiades (Miltiades)
309
Eusebius
308
Marcellus I
296
Marcellinus
283
Caius
275
Eutychian
269
Felix I
259
Dionysius
257
Sixtus II
254
Stephen I
253
Lucius I
251
Cornelius
236
Fabian
235
Anterus
230
Pontian
222
Urban I
217
Callistus I
199
Zephyrinus
189
Victor I
175
Eleutherius
166
Soter
155
Anicetus
140
Pius I
136
Hyginus
125
Telesphorus
115
Sixtus I
105
Alexander I
97
Evaristus
88
Clement
Fourth Pope, author of Letter to the Corinthians
76
Anacletus (Cletus)
Third Pope
67
Linus
Second Pope, First successor to Peter
38
Peter
First Pope, appointed by Christ Himself (Matthew 16:18)