<P> As to the earliest ages, St. Peter himself constituted a senate for the Roman Church, consisting of twenty - four priests and deacons . These were the councillors of the Bishop of Rome and the electors of his successors . This statement is drawn from a canon in the "Corpus Juris Canonici" (can . "Si Petrus", caus. 8, Q. 1). Historians and canonists, however, generally hold that the Roman bishopric was filled on its vacancy in the same manner as other bishoprics, that is, the election of the new pope was made by the neighbouring bishops and the clergy and faithful of Rome . Nevertheless, some maintain that the naming of the successor of St. Peter was restricted to the Roman clergy, and that the people were admitted to a part in the elections only after the time of Sylvester I (fourth century). </P> <P> After Constantine had given peace to the Church, the Christian Roman emperors often took part in the institution of a new pope and at times their influence was very marked . From the fourth century onwards, therefore, a new force had to be reckoned with . The occasion for the interference of the Roman emperors and later of the kings of Italy was afforded by disputed elections to the papal chair . The most noted of the earlier instance was at the election of Boniface I (418). This gave occasion to the decree (c. 8, dist. 79) that when an election was disputed a new candidate should be chosen . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Pope </Th> <Th> Pontificate </Th> <Th> Notes </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1 Peter, Apostle, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 33 - 67 </Td> <Td> According to Catholic doctrine, Peter was appointed Pope when Jesus said: "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and even the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it . Behold, I give you the keys to the kingdom of Heaven ." </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2 Linus, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned c. 67 - 76 </Td> <Td> elected by Church fathers following martyrdom of St. Peter </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 3 Anacletus, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 76 - 88 </Td> <Td> aka Cletus </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 4 Clement I, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 88 - 97 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 5 Evaristus, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned c. 98 - c. 106 </Td> <Td> Aristus in the Liberian Catalogue </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 6 Alexander I, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned c. 106 - 115 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 7 Sixtus I, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 115 - 125 XYSTUS in the oldest documents </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 8 Telesphorus, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 125 - 136 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 9 Hyginus, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned c. 136 - 140 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 10 Pius I, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned c. 140 - c. 154 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 11 Anicetus, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned c. 157 - 168 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 12 Soter, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned c. 166 - c. 174 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 13 Eleutherius, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned c. 175 - 189 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 14 Victor I, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 189 - c. 198 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 15 Zephyrinus, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 198 - 217 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16 Callistus I </Td> <Td> Reigned 218 - c. 222 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 17 Urban I </Td> <Td> Reigned 222 - 230 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 18 Pontian, </Td> <Td> Saint Reigned 230 - 235 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 19 Anterus, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 235 - 236 </Td> <Td> aka Anteros </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 20 Fabian, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 236 - 250 </Td> <Td> A dove flew into the crowd and settled on Fabian's head; the gathered clergy and laity took this as a sign that Fabian had been anointed by the Holy Spirit, and he was chosen the 20th Pope by acclamation </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 21 Cornelius </Td> <Td> Reigned 251 - 253 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 22 Lucius I, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 253 - 254 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 23 Stephen I, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 254 - 257 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 24 Sixtus II, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 257 - 258 </Td> <Td> XYSTUS in the oldest documents </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 25 Dionysius, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 260 - 268 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 26 Felix I, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 269 - 274 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 27 Eutychianus, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 275 - 283 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 28 Caius, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 283 - 296 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 29 Marcellinus, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 296 - 304 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 30 Marcellus I, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 308 - 309 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 31 Eusebius, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 309 or 310 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 32 Miltiades, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 311 - 314 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 33 Sylvester I, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 314 - 335 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 34 Mark, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 336 aka Marcus </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 35 Julius I, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 337 - 352 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 36 Liberius </Td> <Td> Reigned 352 - 366 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 37 Damasus I, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 366 - 383 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 38 Siricius, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 384 - 399 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 39 Anastasius I, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 399 - 401 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 40 Innocent I </Td> <Td> Reigned 401 - 417 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 41 Zosimus, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 417 - 418 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 42 Boniface I, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 418 - 422 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 43 Celestine I, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 422 - 432 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 44 Sixtus III, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 432 - 440 </Td> <Td> XYSTUS in the oldest documents </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 45 Leo I, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 440 - 461 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 46 Hilarus, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 461 - 468 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 47 Simplicius, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 468 - 483 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 48 Felix III (II), Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 483 - 492 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 49 Gelasius I, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 492 - 496 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 50 Anastasius II </Td> <Td> Reigned 496 - 498 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 51 Symmachus, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 498 - 514 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 52 Hormisdas, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 514 - 523 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 53 John I, Saint </Td> <Td> Reigned 523 - c. 526 </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Pope </Th> <Th> Pontificate </Th> <Th> Notes </Th> </Tr>

Who was the first pope and how was he appointed