Why is the papacy based in Rome? What is the Apostolic Succession, and who was the first pope to follow St. Peter? Which pope hired gladiators to slaughter his opponents in the papal election, and which exhumed the body of a previous pope to put his corpse on trial for heresy? What is an antipope, and who was Pope Joan? With color and black and white photos and artworks throughout, and a historical timeline running along the bottom of the pages, this book profiles all 266 popes of the Christian Church, from Peter (ca. 33-64), recognized as the first pope, to Francis I, who took his name to honor the humility of St. Francis of Assisi.