This is just my opinion–I think that St. Peter probably told others in the Roman Church and the vacinity around Rome–both laity and bishops–that he might be martyred and he recommended that Linus be the next Pope–maybe he chose St. Linus over St. Paul because maybe St. Paul was also in jail and maybe Linus wasn’t? Could that be possible?

How many bishops were around Rome at that time? We know that Peter and Paul were bishops–maybe there were a few others around the outskirts of Rome?

I have often wondered if any Popes left recommendations of who their successor should be after they died? Maybe with the proviso that the bishops remaining alive after their deaths could never reveal such recommendations?

The College of Cardinals nowadays can elect anyone they want–I just wonder if any Popes have left them advice on who they should choose?

I think St. Linus should be more revered by many. He was a saint and I’m sure that God wanted Him to be pope after St. Peter.

As for apostolic succession most agree that the bishop of Constantinople was a direct successor of St. Andrew.

Why is the Bishop of Rome the Pope? Because the Holy Spirit has guided the Church into accepting this and the Holy Spirit always guides the Church into all truth.

Why does God want it this way? Who knows the mind of God? Maybe God wants all mankind to know that His Church conquered the Imperial might of the greatest empire of all times–Rome and the He is always in charge of human history–He has Divine Providence.

The Roman Church suffered many martydoms and always clung to the truth. The Bishop of that particular Church is who God wants to be head of the universal Church.

The closest apostle to Jesus might have been St. John. He was never Pope. St. Matthias became one of the 12 by lot. And St. Stephen–only a deacon became the first martyr. And Jesus stood up in Hheaven to receive him!

Remember Jesus saying “The first shall be last and the last shall be first”.

We never know the mind of God–and some of the men who were Popes might not have been the best men–a small number were great sinners–and who knows–maybe some of them became Pope not because of God’s intentional will but because of his circumstantial will. God sometimes allows things in human history that aren’t the best but He can always make good out of it.

I’m sure that any man who becomes the Bishop of Rome and is recognized as Pope–that God will help that man in the exercise of his office.

I am so happy to be Catholic and have a man that by God’s will is in charge of the universal Catholic Church! Thanks be to God!