The first pope was Saint Peter, also known as Simon Peter. According to Catholic tradition, Peter was appointed by Jesus Christ as the head of his church, with Jesus giving him the name "Cephas" (meaning "rock") as a symbol of this role. Peter led the early Christians and traveled to Rome to spread Christianity. His pontificate is traditionally dated to around 30 AD to 64 AD. He is believed to have died a martyrdom during the reign of Emperor Nero, around the 60s AD, though the exact dates of his birth and death are not known. The papacy traces its origin starting with Peter as the first bishop of Rome and the first pope.
