- 18
- Episodes
- 35
- Ratings
- Bi-weekly
- Cadence
- 2026
- First episode
About Lives of the Popes
They have governed the world's largest religion for the past two millennia - yet their fascinating history is strangely little-known. These are the lives and reigns of the popes of the Catholic Church, told in a continuous chronological narrative, from St. Peter on through successors famous or obscure. Put another way, this is a popes'-eye view of the whole history of the Catholic Church. Hosted by Thomas Mirus. A production of CatholicCulture.org.
- Publisher
- CatholicCulture.org
- Category
- history · religion & spirituality
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 16 Mar 2026
- Latest episode
- 19 Oct 2026
Latest episodes
18 episodes in the feed.
19 Oct 2026
Peter Has Spoken Through Leo: The Council of Chalcedon
The Roman See triumphs at the Council of Chalcedon as St. Leo's Tome, and its teaching on the two natures of Christ, is accepted by the council fathers. Links Article version: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/peter-has-spoken-through-leo-council-chalcedon/ The Tome of Leo (audiobook) https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-leo-great-tome-leo/ DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
1 Oct 2026
The Robber Council
The provocation for the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon, which affirmed the orthodox doctrine of the Incarnation, was the heretical "Robber Council" of Ephesus. Links Article version https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/robber-council/ Way of the Fathers, "The Heresies—Eutyches & Monophysitism" https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/416-heresieseutyches-monophysitism-drop-in-ocean/ The Tome of Leo on Catholic Culture Audiobooks https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-leo-great-tome-leo/ DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
16 Sept 2026
St. Leo, Patriarch of the West
We continue to look at St. Leo the Great's reign in expanding circles to see him behaving as the universal pastor in practice that he claimed to be in principle. Future installments will cover his relations with the East, but this one covers his governance as Patriarch of the West. In northern Italy and Africa, Leo had to address disciplinary issues caused by barbarian invasions, while in southern Gaul, he punished an overweening bishop and gave directions on the administration of Penance. Links Text of this episode https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-leo-patriarch-west/ The African Roots of Western Christianity (Way of the Fathers) https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/african-roots-western-christianity/ D.P. Curtin, "The Sudden Death of the African Church" https://firstthings.com/the-sudden-death-of-the-african-church/ DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
1 Sept 2026
St. Leo the Great's Teaching on Petrine Primacy
A summary of Pope St. Leo the Great's teaching on the office of the Bishop of Rome, and some samples of his preaching on other topics. Links Article version https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-leo-greats-teaching-on-petrine-primacy/ Catholic Culture Audiobooks: St. Leo the Great, Three Lenten Sermons https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/pope-st-leo-great-three-lenten-sermons/ St. Leo's collected sermons https://www.cuapress.org/9780813228297/sermons/ Some of his sermons for free online https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3603.htm DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
19 Aug 2026
St. Leo the Great vs. Manichaean Pedophiles
This is the first of several installments about Pope St. Leo the Great (reigned 440-461), a profoundly important figure in the development of the papacy, canon law, Christology, and more - not to mention that he saved Rome from being sacked by Attila the Hun. We begin with his local activities as bishop of Rome and metropolitan of the Roman Province, including fighting Manichaeism, and correcting abuses of the sacraments of Holy Orders, Baptism, and Penance. Prefer reading to listening? Check out the article version here: www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-leo-great-vs-manichaean-pedophiles/ DONATE to make this show possible! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters
3 Aug 2026
Popes of the Theotokos
Both of the popes featured in this installment are remembered for honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary. Most of our time will be spent on the first, St. Celestine, who is important chiefly for his involvement in the Council of Ephesus, which confirmed the title of Mary as Mother of God. This episode covers the 43rd pope, St. Celestine I (422-432), and the 44th, St. Sixtus III (432-440). Links Article version: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/popes-theotokos/ Way of the Fathers on the Council of Ephesus https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/24-ephesus-mother-all-controversies/ Way of the Fathers on Nestorianism https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/415-heresiesnestorianism-two-people-in-one/ Philip Hughes, The Church in Crisis: A History of the General Councils, 325-1870 https://clunymedia.com/collections/philip-hughes/products/the-church-in-crisis DONATE to make this show possible! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters
20 Jul 2026
The Sword of Peter
This installment of Lives of the Popes covers two popes of the early 5th century - Sts. Zosimus and Boniface I - the first of whom passed on multiple complicated situations for his successor to resolve. The greatest drama in Rome at this time, though, was the election of Pope St. Boniface I. Article version https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/sword-peter/ SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters DONATE to make this show possible! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio
7 Jul 2026
They Ruled East and West
So far in this series, we've seen a number of examples of early popes exercising authority over bishops and churches outside of Rome, and even outside of the West. As the documentary record improves, this becomes even clearer, and the popes in this installment, especially St. Innocent I, are striking for the extent to which they asserted their prerogative to govern the entire global Church. We also see evidence of the ancient discipline of clerical continence, the first instance of a person being executed for heresy, and the beginning of the Pelagian controversy. Covered in this episode are popes #38-40: St. Siricius, St. Anastasius I, and St. Innocent I. Links Pope St. Siricius's Decretal to Himerius https://earlychurchtexts.com/public/siricius_decretal_to_himerius.htm Way of the Fathers on the Pelagian heresy https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/413-heresiespelagianism-and-seeds-calvinism/ SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/ DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
23 Jun 2026
Pope St. Damasus, Patron of the Latin Bible
Pope St. Damasus I (reigned 366-384) commissioned St. Jerome to make a new translation of the Bible, defended the Church against heresy, promoted the prestige and practical authority of the papacy, and wrote verse epitaphs for the Roman martyrs. Links Article version https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/pope-st-damasus-patron-latin-bible/ "Defending St. Jerome's honor" https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/defending-st-jeromes-honor/ Relevant Way of the Fathers episodes: Apollinarianism https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/414-heresiesapollinarius-monothelitism-human-suit/ Macedonianism https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/412-heresies-spirit-fighters-aftermath-nicaea/ First Council of Constantinople https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/23-first-constantinople-capital-council/ SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters DONATE to make this show possible! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio
8 Jun 2026
The First Non-Sainted Pope
Liberius (352-366) is not only the first pope in history not to be considered a saint in the Catholic Church, but is also often used by anti-Catholic critics to argue against papal infallibility - since he allegedly signed documents in favor of Arianism under duress from the emperor. Article: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/first-non-sainted-pope/ SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters DONATE to make this show possible! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio
25 May 2026
Sylvester and Constantine
The widespread persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire was finally over for good, beginning the "Peace of the Church". But the "Peace" could only be so peaceful, as internal dissension took the place of external foes, in the form of the Arian Crisis. This episode covers popes #33-35: Sts. Sylvester I, Mark, and Julius I. Links Way of the Fathers episodes: Council of Nicaea https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/22-council-nicaea-first-and-foremost/ Arianism https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/411-heresies-arianism-man-who-became-god/ St. Athanasius https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/ep-23athanasius-against-world/ SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters DONATE to make this show possible! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio
11 May 2026
The Great Persecution
The first decade of the fourth century, from about 302 to 313, is one of the most remarkable in history. In that short time, the Church would go from the worst of persecutions to the beginning of an unprecedented new era of peace and favor. In what we might consider a foreshadowing of the Church's trials and final victory at the end of the world, the Great Persecution was merely the labor pains for the birth of Christendom. This installment covers popes #29-32: Sts. Marcellinus, Marcellus I, Eusebius, and Miltiades. Links Article version of this episode https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/great-persecution/ Phillip Cambell, "The Public Apostasy of Pope Marcellinus" https://unamsanctamcatholicam.com/2024/01/15/the-public-apostasy-of-pope-marcellinus/ Way of the Fathers on Donatism https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/410-heresies-rebaptism-and-donatists/ SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters DONATE to make this show possible! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio
27 Apr 2026
The Little Peace of the Church
The popes in the middle of the third century experienced intense persecution by the emperors Decius and Valerius, but this suddenly gave way to a period of official and explicit toleration, which provided the Church with a foretaste of the lasting relief that was to come under Constantine. This installment covers popes #24-28: Sts. Sixtus II, Dionysius, Felix I, Eutychian, and Gaius. Links Article https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/little-peace-church/ The Paradoxical Prestige of the Deacon in the Early Church https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/paradoxical-prestige-deacon-in-early-church/ DONATE to make this show possible! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters
13 Apr 2026
Popes of the Lost Sheep
The three popes who reigned during this period all had to deal with serious divisions within the Church, especially over questions of how the Church should treat fallen-away Catholics who wished to return, as well as those who had been baptized by heretics and now wished to join themselves to the true Church. An important participant in these controversies, was St. Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, who supported the positions of Pope Sts. Cornelius and Lucius, but clashed with the third, Pope St. Stephen. This episode covers popes #21-23: Sts. Cornelius, Lucius I, and Stephen I. Article: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/popes-lost-sheep/ Links Related Way of the Fathers episodes: Novatian, Pt. 1 https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/48-novatian-good-bad-ugly-pt-1-good/ Novatian, Pt. 2 https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/49-novatian-part-2-bad-and-ugly/ Pope St. Stephen and the Sacraments https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/pope-st-stephen-and-sacraments/ Rebaptism and the Donatist heresy https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/410-heresies-rebaptism-and-donatists/ St. Cyprian of Carthage https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/ep-18-short-happy-life-cyprian-carthage/ Fr. Ray Ryland, "Will the Real St. Cyprian Please Stand?" https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/will-the-real-st-cyprian-please-stand SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters DONATE to keep this podcast going: https://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
30 Mar 2026
The First Antipope
The first four of the six popes covered in this installment found themselves in conflict with a priest named Hippolytus, the most brilliant intellectual of the Roman Church at the time. Hippolytus would become the first antipope in the history of the Church, plaguing three successive papacies with his schism. Yet his story has a happy and even poetic ending. This episode covers popes #15-#20: Sts. Zephyrinus, Callistus I, Urban I, Pontian, Anterus, and Fabian. Article https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/first-antipope/ Modalism https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/47-heresies-modalism-god-as-monad-with-three-names/ St. Hippolytus of Rome https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/ep-17the-long-strange-trip-hippolytus-rome/ Leo XIII's encyclical on marriage https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/leo-xiii-on-what-marriage-owes-to-church/ DONATE to make this show possible! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters
18 Mar 2026
The Ten Popes of the Second Century
Little is known about many of the popes of the second century. Several of them were martyrs. They had to deal with different heresies that made their way to Rome, and there was also a controversy over the correct date of Easter. This episode covers popes #5-#14: Sts. Evaristus, Alexander I, Sixtus I, Telesphorus, Hyginus, Pius I, Anicetus, Soter, Eleutherius, and Victor I. Article: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/ten-popes-second-century/ Way of the Fathers https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/category/way-fathers/ Way of the Fathers on St. Irenaeus of Lyons (an important source about the early popes) https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/irenaeus-lyon-putting-smack-down-on-heresy/ Catholic Culture Audiobooks https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/category/audiobooks/ DONATE to make this show possible! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters
18 Mar 2026
Popes of the Apostolic Era
The first three popes after St. Peter likely knew the Prince of the Apostles personally and may even have been hand-selected by him. We know little of Sts. Linus and Cletus, but the first writing we possess by a pope after St. Peter himself is a precious letter by Pope St. Clement I to the Church of Corinth. Article: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/popes-apostolic-era-lives-popes-2/ Audiobooks of Pope St. Clement's letters: Letter to the Corinthians https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-clement-rome-letter-to-corinthians/ Apocryphal Second Letter https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/so-called-second-letter-st-clement/ More about St. Clement's Letter on Way of the Fathers https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/clement-rome-earliest-christian-author-after-apostles/ DONATE to make this show possible! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters
16 Mar 2026
Introducing Lives of the Popes
One must beware a rabbit hole. Article: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/lives-popes-part-one-infinity/ DONATE to make this show possible! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters
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