Who is the first pope?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

From the perspective of the Coptic Orthodox Church, the answer depends on the See (Apostolic center), as the title of "Pope" was historically used for the Patriarch of Alexandria long before it was adopted as a primary title by the Bishop of Rome.

1. The Pope of Alexandria

The first Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church is St. Mark the Evangelist.

St. Mark is the author of the Gospel of Mark and is the founder of the See of Alexandria. He arrived in Egypt around 61 AD, converted the first Egyptian Christian (Anianus), and established the Catechetical School of Alexandria and the Divine Liturgy (later known as the Liturgy of St. Cyril). He was martyred in Alexandria in 68 AD by heathens who dragged him through the streets. Every Pope of Alexandria, including the current Pope Tawadros II, is the direct successor of St. Mark.

Historically, the head of the Alexandrian Church was the first to be called "Pope" (which means "Father"). This title was applied to the 13th Patriarch, Pope Heraclas (232–248 AD), more than a century before it was commonly used for the Bishop of Rome.

2. The Pope of Rome

In the Catholic tradition, St. Peter the Apostle is considered the first Pope.

However, from the Coptic Orthodox perspective:

• While we honor St. Peter as the "Prince of the Apostles" and a great martyr, we do not accept the Catholic claim that he was the "First Pope" in the sense of having universal authority over the other Apostles or the entire Church.
• The Apostles were equal in grace and authority. St. Peter was the Bishop of Antioch before he went to Rome, yet Rome is the only place that claims him as its exclusive "Pope" to justify universal jurisdiction.
• In the early Church, the Bishop of Rome was respected as "first among equals" due to Rome being the capital of the Empire, but he did not have the power to rule over the other Patriarchates like Alexandria, Antioch, or Jerusalem.

3. Summary

In the Coptic Orthodox Faith, the first is St. Mark. He is our teacher, our evangelist, and the first in the chain of the 118 Popes who have led the Church of Egypt through centuries of persecution and steadfastness in the true faith.