The position of Bishop of Rome as primate of the Western Church (pope derived from  papa,  the Latin word for father), first claimed in the second century, was later asserted by Pope Leo I (440 461), who traced the succession back to St. Peter.
St. Peter was the first to be the primate.
mnli hypothesis: St. Peter was the first to be the primate. premise: The position of Bishop of Rome as primate of the Western Church (pope derived from  papa,  the Latin word for father), first claimed in the second century, was later asserted by Pope Leo I (440 461), who traced the succession back to St. Peter.