[OLD REGGIE]

Peter never hesitated to take the lead, he was led by the Holy Spirit to do so. History confirms Peter as the first pope even if he himself did not see or understand that as his role.

Please enlighten me. I am not aware of hard, factual, history which confirms Peter as Pope.

[Jvette]

I point you to any history of the Church, wherein Peter is always named as the first pope, though not a term or title which was used in the beginning.

St. Iranaeus, a disciple of Polycarp who was himself a disciple of St. John, first tracks the successions of the bishops of Rome.

St. Eusebius also does so.

I can’t remember who first uses the term “Apostolic Succession”.