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Saint Linus (d. 79) is considered by Roman
Catholics as the second leader of the Christian
church in the city of Rome however he may have
been appointed as the Bishop of Rome by Saint Paul
first.  The Catholic Church identifies Linus as
the second Pope, immediately following the apostle
Saint Peter. Tertullian names Pope Clement I|Saint
Clement to have been the first successor to Saint
Peter, but all other accounts unanimously have
Linus as the first bishop of Rome following St
Peter, though they vary significantly on the date
of the commencement of his papacy. Most sources
suggest that Linus became pope in 67, while
Eusebius gives 69, the Catholic Encyclopedia 64,
the Liber Pontificalis 56 and the Liberian
Catalogue 55. The Vatican's "Annuario Pontificio"
(2003) cites the year 68. The discrepancy may be
explained by Linus already being Saint Peter's
adjutor during his lifetime, and some of the
sources may incorrectly choose this time. He was
Pope for eleven to fifteen years; the Liberian
Catalogue gives a duration of 12 years, 4 months
and 12 days. 

Saint Peter | Saint Peter's words preserved in the
"Apostolic Constitutions"
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf07.ix.viii.iv.h
tml (Book VII Section IV) comment on the
appointment of Saint Linus as Rome's first Bishop.
 Saint Peter writes: "Now concerning those bishops
which have been ordained in our lifetime, we let
you know that they are these: ... Of the church of
Rome, Linus the son of Claudia was the first,
ordained by Paul; and Clemens, after Linus’
death, the second, ordained by me Peter."

The Apostolic Church Elder Irenaeus, a disciple of
Polycarp (Born cir. A.D. 130) and later Bishop of
Smyrna, also confirms Linus' appointment.  He
wrote: "After the Holy Apostles founded and set
the Church in order (in Rome) they gave over the
exercise of the episcopal office to Linus. The
same Linus is mentioned by St. Paul in his Epistle
to Timothy Tim 4:21. His successor was Anacletus."
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103303.htm (Adv.
haereses, III, iii, 3).  Also, "The apostles,
having founded and built up the Church at Rome,
committed the ministry of its supervision to
Linus. This is the Linus mentioned by Paul in his
Epistle to Timothy." (Irenaei Opera Lib. III.
C.I.)

Almost nothing is known of his life. According to
Zedler his mother was Claudia, his father
Herculeanus. All of the writings which were
thought to have been written by Linus actually
turned out to be fiction or unprovable. The decree
for women to keep their heads covered while in
church is probably not issued by him, as was
claimed for a long time. The apocryphal Latin
account of the death of the apostles Peter and
Paul is falsely attributed to Linus (it was
actually written in the 6th century). 

Sources also vary on the date of his death. Most
suggest that he died in 79, while the Liber
Pontificalis gives 67, Johann Heinrich
Zedler|Zedler 78 and Eusebius 81. Many
sources—especially the Liber Pontificalis,
but not Irenaeus—claim he died a martyr, but
as there was no persecution in the time of Linus'
death, most historians regard Linus' martyrdom
rather improbable. Nevertheless, his memorial
(feast day) is September 23, the day of his
martyrdom according to the Liber Pontificalis. The
same work also claims that Linus was buried on the
Vatican Hill. In the 7th century an inscription
was found near the confessional of St Peter, which
was believed to contain the name Linus.

Pope|
Predecessor=Saint Peter|
Successor=Pope Anacletus|Saint
Anacletus|Dates=67–79

==References==
*R Roberts & J Donaldson (trans),
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf07.i.html The
Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol VII'