the fifth century,” Herbert Cardinal Vaughan, Archbishop of Westminster
back in 1895 set forth some of the early Patristic evidence in support of St.
Peter’s presence in Rome²:
(i)
Tertullian (200 AD) speaks of St. Peter ordaining St. Clement in
Rome (The Demurrer Against the Heretics 32) and of St. Peter
baptizing in the Tiber River (On Baptism 4).
(ii)
Clement of Alexandria (ante 217 AD) speaks of St. Peter
proclaiming the word of God publicly in Rome (in Eusebius,
Ecclesiastical History 6, 14).
(iii)
Caius (214 AD) referred to Pope Victor as thirteenth bishop of
Rome after St. Peter (in Eusebius, Eccl. Hist. 5, 28).
(iv)
St. Hippolytus (225 AD) names St. Peter as first bishop of Rome
(fragment On the Twelve Apostles XLIX);
(v)
St. Cyprian of Carthage (250 AD) speaks of the “the place of
Peter” (Ep. ad Anton.) and “the seat of Peter” (Ep. ad Cornel.)
when referring to Rome.
(vi)
Firmilian of Caesaria (257 AD) speaks of the “succession of Peter”
and “the chair of Peter” (Ep. ad Cyp.) when referring to Rome.
(vii)
The Council of Sardica (342-343 AD) “honors the memory of the
Apostle Peter” by referring appeals to the See of Peter in Rome
(Can. IV and Ep. ad Julium).
(viii)
Pope Julius I (337-352 AD), Bishop of Rome, referred to the
doctrines received by him as coming from St. Peter (Apud. Apol.
Athanas. 35).
(ix)
St. Athanasius (358 AD) called Rome the Apostolic Throne (Hist.
Arian. ad. Monach., 35).
2
Tenth Lecture at Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England, Autumn 1895.
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