The Liberian Catalogue

The “Liberian Catalogue” derives its name from “pope” Liberius, the bishop of Rome under whom it was produced. It is “of little or no value as a record until it reaches the third century. The names of the first bishops are unquestionably derived from earlier, second century lists, such as those of Irenaeus and Hegesippus.” (Shotwell and Loomis, pg 709). The attribution to Peter of “25 years, 1 month, 9 days” as Bishop of Rome is, according to Daniel William O’Connor (“Peter in Rome” ), New York and London: Columbia University Press, ©1969), a phenomenon “of the third century” (35). “The first certain trace of a Roman papal list, now lost, which indicated the length of the various episcopates was that of Sextus Julius Africanus (A.D. c. 220-35).

And yet this is precisely what the Roman bishops believed about themselves and their authority for centuries. They taught and asserted these things as facts, most boldly.

Just about a year ago, a Roman Catholic defended the historicity of the papacy to me using this document.

Chronography of 354 Index

Bishops of Rome

When Tiberius Caesar was reigning, our Lord Jesus Christ died, the two twins being consul, on the 8th day before the Kalends of April. And after his ascension the Blessed Peter took up the episcopate. From that time by the succession of ordinations, who was bishop, how many years he presided or who was emperor.

Peter 25 years, 1 month, 9 days. He was in the times of Tiberius Caesar and Gaius and Tiberius Claudius and Nero, from the consulate of Minucius and Longinus [AD 30] to that of Nero and Verus [AD 55]. However he died with Paul on the 3rd day before the kalends of July, the emperor Nero being consul.

Linus 12 years, 4 months, 12 days. He was in the time of Nero, from the consulate of Saturninus and Scipio [56] to that of Capito and Rufus [67].

Clemens 9 years, 11 months, 12 days. He was in the times of Galba and Vespasian, from the consulate of Tracalus and Italicus [68] to that of Vespasian for the 6th time and Titus [76].

Cletus 6 years, 2 months, 10 days. He was in the times of Vespasian and Titus and the start of Domitian, from the consulate of Vespasian for the 8th time and Domitian for the 5th [77] to that of Domitian for the 9th time and Rufus [83].

Anaclitus 12 years, 10 months, 3 days. He was in the time of Domitian, from the consulate of Domitian for the 10th time and Sabinus [84] to that of Domitian for the 17th time and Clemens [95].

Aristus 13 years, 7 months, 2 days. He was in the latter times of Domitian, and of Nerva and Trajan, from the consulate of Valens and Verus [96] to that of Gallus and Bradua [108].

Alexander 11 years, 2 months, 1 day. He was in the time of Trajan, from the consulate of Palma and Tullus [109] to that of Velianus and Vetus [116].

Sixtus 10 years, 3 months, 21 days. He was in the time of Hadrian, from the consulate of Niger and Apronianus [117] to that of Verus for the 3rd time and Ambibulus [126].

Telesphorus 11 years, 3 months, 3 days. He was in the time of Antoninius Macrinus from the consulate of Titianus and Gallicanus [127] to that of Caesar and Balbinus [137].

Hyginus 12 years, 3 months, 6 days. He was in the time of Verus from the consulate of Gallicanus and Vetus [150] to that of Praesens and Rufinus [153].

Pius 20 years, 4 months, 21 days. He was in the time of Antoninus Pius, from the consulate of Clarus and Severus [146] to that of the two emperors [161]. Under his episcopate, his brother Hermes wrote the book, in which are contained the Mandates, which an angel taught him, when he came to him in the garment of a shepherd.

Soter 9 years 3 months, 2 days. He was in the times of Antoninus and Commodus, from the consulate of Verus and Herenianus [171] to that of Paternus and Bradua [185].

Victor 9 years, 2 months 10 days. He was in the time of Antoninus, from the consulate of Saturninus and Gallus [198] to that of Praesens and Extricatus [217].

Here might be an excellent time to re-state what the Roman Catholic theologian John Meier stated in his essay in “How Can the Petrine Ministry Be a Service to the Unity of the Universal Church?” (Grand Rapids, MI and Cambridge, UK: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, ©2010):

A papacy that cannot give a credible account of its own origins can hardly hope to be a catalyst for unity among divided Christians (14).

There is, in fact, nothing that is credible about the papacy.