St. Peter was succeeded by St. Linus who governed the Church of Rome from 67 A.D. to 76 A.D. when he was martyred. He is mentioned by name in the Second Letter to Timothy: “Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers send greetings (II Timothy 4:21).” The earliest witness to Linus's status as bishop was Irenaeus, who in about the year 180 wrote, "The blessed...