Apostolic succession
Apostolic Succession of the Clergy
of the World Council of National Catholic Churches
of the World Council of National Catholic Churches
Our ecclesiastical hierarchy goes back directly and in continuity, through an unbroken series of ordinations (consecrations) of bishops, to the Apostles ordained by Jesus Christ.
The sacramental validity and efficacy of episcopal ordinations, as well as the intactness of the ancient beliefs and practices of the Church of Christ, are considered the most important instrument and guarantee of the preservation of the apostolic succession.
The ordination of bishops in the World Council of the National Catholic Churches goes back to St. Peter the Apostle.
The sacramental validity and efficacy of episcopal ordinations, as well as the intactness of the ancient beliefs and practices of the Church of Christ, are considered the most important instrument and guarantee of the preservation of the apostolic succession.
The ordination of bishops in the World Council of the National Catholic Churches goes back to St. Peter the Apostle.
- Leonardo Beg
(March 4, 1976 - )PatriarchHe received EPISCOPAL CONSECRATION in Rab (Croatia), in the area of the Basilica of St. John the Evangelist, on September 22, 2012. , in the atmosphere of public media lynching of the Roman Catholic Ordinariate of the Diocese of Krk (see, among other: Press release of the Ordinariate of the Diocese of Krk: On the alleged ordination of Mr. Leonard Beg as an Old Catholic Bishop, dated September 14, 2012,), and which is characterized as a public act of persecution for the old (authentic) faith of the first millennium, and thus an indicator of martyrdom for the faith. At the same time, the Press Release of Roman Catholic Diocese of Krk (as well as the accompanying Roman Catholic parish
leaflets, sermons, etc.) was in direct conflict with Articles 130 and 325 of the Criminal low of the Republic of Croatia. Despite all the inconveniences, the Old Catholic bishops came to Rab, to carry out the consecration lawfully elected bishop under Old Catholic Canon law.
Because of the language barrier, the Episcopal Consecration was presided over as a representative and in the name of the present Patriarch Antonio Jose da Costa Raposo in Croatian language by Msgr. Ante Nikolić, Bishop of the Croatian Catholic Church of the Body of Christ in Canada. Assisted Consecrators was:PatriarchAntonio Jose da Costa Raposo, Archbishop of the Old Catholic Apostolic Church of Portugal, Msgr. Dr. Augustin Bačinský, Archbishop of the Old Catholic Church in Slovakia and Metropolitan of the Church Region of St. Method, and Msgr. HansJörg Peters, Bishop of the Old Catholic Vicariate of Austria. - Augustin Bachinsky
(20 October 1949 - 19 January 2021)Patriarch
(Archiepiscopus Primas)Archbishop Antonio José da Costa Rapoza, together with the Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro and Primate of the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church, Olinto Fereiro Pinta, President of the Synod of Bishops of the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church, Bishop Josivaldo Pereira de Oliveira, Bishop Antonin Jelynek (Czech Republic) ordained Augustin Baczynski as bishop of the Old Catholic Church in Slovakia on February 8, 2004.
Elected Patriarch of the World Council of National Catholic Churches September 16, 2017
Died January 19, 2021 - Antóniо José da Costa Raposа
(8 February 1948 г - )Patriarch
(Archiepiscopus Primas)Antonio José da Costa Rapoza founded the World Council of National Catholic Churches as a union of free and conservative Old Catholic, Episcopal and other orthodox Christian churches building their ecclesiality on the principles of apostolic succession of ordination, doctrine and morality. In order to attract into communion churches and parishes that defend the Tradition of the undivided Christian Church of the first millennium. Churches wishing to join the WNCC are also required to prohibit the ordination of women, to prohibit the blessing of same-sex marriages, and to prohibit the blessing of political parties and movements with a Marxist ideology at their core.
Archbishop-Primate (Patriarch) Luiz Fernando Castillo Mendez (Patriarch of the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church) ordained António José da Costa Raposa as bishop on November 28, 1982. - Luis Fernando Castillo Mendez
(4 December 1922 – 29 December 2009 г)Patriarch
(Archiepiscopus Primas)Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa ordained Luis Fernando Castillo Mendez as bishop on May 3, 1948. - Carlos Duarte Costa
(21 July 1888 – 26 March 1961)BishopArchbishop Sebastião Leme da Silveira Cintra
(January 20, 1882 - October 17, 1942)
He ordained Carlos Duarte Costa as bishop on December 8, 1924.
The Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church (Igreja Catolica Apostolica Brasileira) was founded on July 6, 1945, by the Catholic bishop Carlos Duarte Costa, who criticized the Brazilian government for having sheltered the Nazis. As early as the 1930s, Costa advocated a vigorous reform of the Catholic Church (in many ways a precursor to the 2nd Vatican Council), for which he was removed from the diocese and named titular bishop of Maura. He also believed that celibate priesthood was not necessary, that the dogma of papal infallibility was false, etc. In 1945, he blamed the Holy See for helping fleeing Nazis who had taken refuge in Brazil. Eventually, because of so much controversy, he had to leave the Catholic Church and register the Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church. Masses in the church were immediately translated into Portuguese. The number of his parishioners in Brazil grew to 500,000. In all, Carlos Duarte Costa ordained eight bishops, two of whom (Salomâo Barbosa Ferraz and Orlando Arce-Moya) returned to the Roman Catholic Church and were received as bishops. Pope John XXIII thereby testified to the absolute validity and efficacy of the Sacraments administered by Bishop Duarte Costa. - Sebastião Leme da Silveira Cintra
(20 January 1882 - 17 October 1942)ArchbishopCardinal Joaquim Arcoverde de Albuquerque Cavalcante ordained Sebastião Leme da Silveira Cintra as bishop on June 4, 1911. - Joaquim Arcoverde de Albuquerque Cavalcanti
(17 January 1850 - 18 April 1930)CardinalCardinal Mariano Rampolla Del Tindaro ordained Cardinal Joaquim Arcoverde de Albuquerque Cavalcanti on October 26, 1890. - Mariano Rampolla del Tindaro
(17 August 1843- 16 December 1913)CardinalCardinal Edward Henry Howard ordained Cardinal Mariano Rampolla del Tindaro on December 8, 1882. - Edward Henry Howard
(13 February 1829 - 16 September 1892)CardinalCardinal Carlo Sacconi ordained Cardinal Edward Henry Howard on June 30, 1872 - Carlo Sacconi
(9 May 1808 - 25 February 1889)CardinalCardinal Giacomo Filippo Fransoni ordained Cardinal Carlo Sacconi on June 8, 1851. - Giacomo Filippo Fransoni
(10 December 1775 - 20 April 1856)CardinalCardinal Pietro Francesco Galleffi
ordained Cardinal Giacomo Filippo Fransoni on 8 December 1822 - Pietro Francesco Galleffi
(27 October 1770 - 18 June 1837)CardinalCardinal Alessandro Mattei ordained Cardinal Pietro Francesco Galleffi on September 12, 1819 - Alessandro Mattei
(20 February 1744- 20 April 1820)CardinalCardinal Bernardino Giraud ordained the future Cardinal Alessandro Mattei as bishop on February 23, 1777. - Bernardino Giraud
(14 July 1721 - 5 May 1782)CardinalPope Clement XIII ordained the future Cardinal Bernardino Giraud as bishop on April 26, 1767. - Carlo della Torre Rezzonico - Pope Clement XIII
(7 March 1693 - 2 February 1769)PopeProspero Lorenzo Lambertini, as Pope Benedict XIV, ordained Carlo De La Torre Rezzonico, the future Cardinal and Pope Clement XIII as bishop on March 19, 1743. - Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini - Pope Benedict XIV
(31 March 1675 - 3 May 1758)PopePope Benedict XIII (Orsini de Gravina) ordained Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, future Cardinal and Pope Benedict XIV as bishop on July 16, 1724. - Pietro Francesco (Vincenzo Maria) Orsini de Gravina - Pope Benedict XIII
(2 February 1649 - 23 February 1730)PopeCardinal Palucci Altieri Degli Albertoni ordained Pietro Francesco (Vincenzo Maria) Orsini de Gravina - Pope Benedict XIII (Pietro Francesco (Vincenzo Maria) Orsini de Gravina - Pope Benedict XIII) as a future cardinal and pope on February 3, 1675. Cardinal Orsini became Pope Benedict XIII on May 29, 1724. - Paluzzi Altieri Degli Albertoni
(8 June 1623 - 29 June 1698)CardinalCardinal Ulderico Carpegna ordained the future Cardinal Paluzzi Altieri Degli Albertoni (Paluzzi Altieri Degli Albertoni) as bishop on May 2, 1666. - Ulderico Carpegna
(24 June 1595 - 24 January 1679)CardinalCardinal Luigi Gaetani ordained the future Cardinal Ulderico Carpegna as bishop on October 7, 1630. - Luigi Caetani
(? - 15 April 1642)CardinalCardinal Ludovico Ludovisi ordained the future Cardinal Luigi Caetani as bishop on June 12, 1622 - Ludovico Ludovisi
(27 October 1595 - 18 November 1632)CardinalArchbishop Galeazzo Sanvitalle ordained the future Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi as bishop on May 2, 1621. - Galeazzo Sanvitalle
(?- 8 September 1622)ArchbishopCardinal Girolamo Bernerio ordained Archbishop Galeazzo Sanvitale on April 4, 1604. - Girolamo Bernerio
(? - 5 August 1611)CardinalCardinal Santorio ordained the future Cardinal Girolamo Bernerio as bishop on September 7, 1586 - Antonio Santorio
(6 June 1532 - 9 May 1602)CardinalCardinal Rebiba ordained as bishop the future Cardinal Giulio Antonio Santorio on March 16, 1566 (to the latter goes back the apostolic succession of Pietro Francesco Orsini de Gravina, Pope Benedict XIII (pontificate 1724-1730). - Scipione Rebiba
(3 February 1504 -23 July 1577)CardinalCardinal Rebiba ordained no fewer than 139 bishops to various important cathedrals in Europe and the New World, many of whom in turn also ordained many bishops each. Thus, the "genealogy" of episcopal ordinations of about 95% of about 5,000 modern bishops in the Catholic Church goes back to Benedict XIII and, through him, to Cardinal Rebibe).
Cardinal Gianpietro Carafa, Bishop of Chieti (the future Pope Paul IV) ordained the future Cardinal Scipione Rebiba as bishop on March 16, 1541. - Pope Paul IV
(28 June 1476 — 18 August 1559)Pope
Popes before Paul IV:
Marcellus II
(May 6, 1501 — May 1, 1555)
Julius III
(September 10, 1487 — March 23, 1555)
Paul III
(February 29, 1468 — November 10, 1549)
Clement VII
(May 26, 1478 — September 25, 1534)
Adrian VI
(March 2, 1459 — September 14, 1523)
Leo X
(December 11, 1475 — December 1, 1521)
Julius II
(December 5, 1443 — February 21, 1513)
Pius III
(May 29, 1439 — October 18, 1503)
Alexander VI
(January 1, 1431 — August 18, 1503)
Innocent VIII
(1432? — July 25, 1492)
Sixtus IV
(July 21, 1414 — August 12, 1484)
Paul II
(February 23, 1417 — July 26, 1471)
Pius II
(October 18, 1405 — August 14/15, 1464)
Calixtus III
(December 31, 1378 — August 6, 1458)
Nicholas V
(November 15, 1397 — March 24, 1455)
Felix V
(September 4, 1383 — January 7, 1451)
Eugene IV
(1383 — February 23, 1447)
Martin V
(1368 — February 20, 1431)
Gregory XII
(1325/1336 — October 18, 1417)
Innocent VII
(1336 — November 6, 1406)
Boniface IX
(1356 — October 1, 1404)
Urban VI
(1318 — October 15, 1389)
Gregory XI
(1329, 1331 or 1336 — March 27
, 1378) blessed. Urban V
(1309/1310 — December 19, 1370)
Innocent VI
(1282 or 1295 — September 12, 1362)
Clement VI
(1291 — December 6, 1352)
Benedict XII
(1280s (1285?) — April 25, 1342)
Nicholas V
(? — October 13, 1333)
John XXII
(1244 or 1249 — December 4, 1334)
Clement V
(1264 — April 20
, 1314) blessed. Benedict XI
(1240 — July 7, 1304)
Boniface VIII
(ca. 1235 — October 11, 1303)
St. Celestine V
(1215 — May 19, 1296)
Nicholas IV
(September 30, 1227 — April 4, 1292)
Honorius IV
(ca. 1210 — April 3, 1287)
Martin IV
(ca. 1210 — March 28, 1285)
Nicholas III
(ca. 1216 — August 22, 1280)
John XXI
(between 1210 and 1220 — May 20, 1277)
Gregory XI
(1210 or 1215 — September 6, 1276)
Adrian V
(ca. 1205 — August 18, 1276)
blazh. Innocent V
(ca. 1225 — June 22, 1276)
blazh. Gregory X
(ca. 1210 — January 10, 1276)
Clement IV
(November 23 between 1190 and 1200 — November 29, 1268)
Urban IV
(1195 or 1200 — October 2, 1264)
Alexander IV
(ca. 1185 — May 25, 1261)
Innocent IV
(ca. 1195 — December 7, 1254)
Celestine IV
(ca. 1187 — 10 November 1241)
Gregory IX
(ca. 1145 — August 22, 1241)
Honorius III
(1148 — March 18, 1227)
Innocent III
(ca. 1161 — July 16, 1216)
Celestine III
(c. 1106 — January 8, 1198)
Clement III
(1105/1110 — March 20, 1191)
Gregory VIII
(between 1105 and 1110 — December 17, 1187)
Urban III
(ca. 1120 — October 20, 1187)
Lucius III
(1097 — November 25, 1185)
Alexander III
(1105 — August 30, 1181)
Adrian IV
(ca. 1115 — September 1, 1159)
Anastasius IV
(no later than 1073 — December 3, 1154)
blessed. Eugene III
(? — July 8, 1153)
Lucius II
(? — February 15, 1145)
Celestine II
(? — March 8, 1144)
Innocent II
(? — September 24, 1143)
Honorius II
(? — February 14, 1130)
Calixtus II
(ca. 1060 — December 13, 1124)
Gelasius II
(? — January 28, 1119)
Paschal II
(? — January 21
, 1118) blessed. Urban II
(c. 1042 — July 29
, 1099) blessed. Victor III
(ca. 1027 — September 16, 1087)
St. Gregory VII
(1020/1025 — May 25, 1085)
Alexander II
(? — April 21, 1073)
Nicholas II
(? — July 27, 1061)
Stephen IX (X)
(ca. 1010/1020 — March 29, 1058)
Victor II
(ca. 1018 — July 28, 1057)
St. Leo IX
(June 21, 1002 — 19 April 1054)
Damasius II (Damas)
(? — August 9, 1048)
Benedict IX
(c. 1012 — between September 18, 1055 and January 9, 1056)
Clement II
(1005 — October 9, 1047)
Gregory VI
(? — 1048)
Benedict IX
(c. 1012 — between September 18, 1055 and January 9, 1056)
Sylvester III
(? — 1062 or 1063)
John XIX
(? — November 6, 1032)
Benedict VIII
(? — April 9, 1024)
Sergius IV
(? - May 12, 1012)
John XVIII
(? — July 18, 1009)
John XVII
(? — December 6, 1003)
Sylvester II
(946 — May 12, 1003)
…
The following list is common knowledge.
You can trace it here, for example.
…
St. Clement I.
(? - 97/101)
Saint Cletus (Anacletus, Anacletus)
(? - 88/90)
Saint Lin
(? - September 23, 76/78)
The Holy Apostle Peter
(? - c. 67)
Marcellus II
(May 6, 1501 — May 1, 1555)
Julius III
(September 10, 1487 — March 23, 1555)
Paul III
(February 29, 1468 — November 10, 1549)
Clement VII
(May 26, 1478 — September 25, 1534)
Adrian VI
(March 2, 1459 — September 14, 1523)
Leo X
(December 11, 1475 — December 1, 1521)
Julius II
(December 5, 1443 — February 21, 1513)
Pius III
(May 29, 1439 — October 18, 1503)
Alexander VI
(January 1, 1431 — August 18, 1503)
Innocent VIII
(1432? — July 25, 1492)
Sixtus IV
(July 21, 1414 — August 12, 1484)
Paul II
(February 23, 1417 — July 26, 1471)
Pius II
(October 18, 1405 — August 14/15, 1464)
Calixtus III
(December 31, 1378 — August 6, 1458)
Nicholas V
(November 15, 1397 — March 24, 1455)
Felix V
(September 4, 1383 — January 7, 1451)
Eugene IV
(1383 — February 23, 1447)
Martin V
(1368 — February 20, 1431)
Gregory XII
(1325/1336 — October 18, 1417)
Innocent VII
(1336 — November 6, 1406)
Boniface IX
(1356 — October 1, 1404)
Urban VI
(1318 — October 15, 1389)
Gregory XI
(1329, 1331 or 1336 — March 27
, 1378) blessed. Urban V
(1309/1310 — December 19, 1370)
Innocent VI
(1282 or 1295 — September 12, 1362)
Clement VI
(1291 — December 6, 1352)
Benedict XII
(1280s (1285?) — April 25, 1342)
Nicholas V
(? — October 13, 1333)
John XXII
(1244 or 1249 — December 4, 1334)
Clement V
(1264 — April 20
, 1314) blessed. Benedict XI
(1240 — July 7, 1304)
Boniface VIII
(ca. 1235 — October 11, 1303)
St. Celestine V
(1215 — May 19, 1296)
Nicholas IV
(September 30, 1227 — April 4, 1292)
Honorius IV
(ca. 1210 — April 3, 1287)
Martin IV
(ca. 1210 — March 28, 1285)
Nicholas III
(ca. 1216 — August 22, 1280)
John XXI
(between 1210 and 1220 — May 20, 1277)
Gregory XI
(1210 or 1215 — September 6, 1276)
Adrian V
(ca. 1205 — August 18, 1276)
blazh. Innocent V
(ca. 1225 — June 22, 1276)
blazh. Gregory X
(ca. 1210 — January 10, 1276)
Clement IV
(November 23 between 1190 and 1200 — November 29, 1268)
Urban IV
(1195 or 1200 — October 2, 1264)
Alexander IV
(ca. 1185 — May 25, 1261)
Innocent IV
(ca. 1195 — December 7, 1254)
Celestine IV
(ca. 1187 — 10 November 1241)
Gregory IX
(ca. 1145 — August 22, 1241)
Honorius III
(1148 — March 18, 1227)
Innocent III
(ca. 1161 — July 16, 1216)
Celestine III
(c. 1106 — January 8, 1198)
Clement III
(1105/1110 — March 20, 1191)
Gregory VIII
(between 1105 and 1110 — December 17, 1187)
Urban III
(ca. 1120 — October 20, 1187)
Lucius III
(1097 — November 25, 1185)
Alexander III
(1105 — August 30, 1181)
Adrian IV
(ca. 1115 — September 1, 1159)
Anastasius IV
(no later than 1073 — December 3, 1154)
blessed. Eugene III
(? — July 8, 1153)
Lucius II
(? — February 15, 1145)
Celestine II
(? — March 8, 1144)
Innocent II
(? — September 24, 1143)
Honorius II
(? — February 14, 1130)
Calixtus II
(ca. 1060 — December 13, 1124)
Gelasius II
(? — January 28, 1119)
Paschal II
(? — January 21
, 1118) blessed. Urban II
(c. 1042 — July 29
, 1099) blessed. Victor III
(ca. 1027 — September 16, 1087)
St. Gregory VII
(1020/1025 — May 25, 1085)
Alexander II
(? — April 21, 1073)
Nicholas II
(? — July 27, 1061)
Stephen IX (X)
(ca. 1010/1020 — March 29, 1058)
Victor II
(ca. 1018 — July 28, 1057)
St. Leo IX
(June 21, 1002 — 19 April 1054)
Damasius II (Damas)
(? — August 9, 1048)
Benedict IX
(c. 1012 — between September 18, 1055 and January 9, 1056)
Clement II
(1005 — October 9, 1047)
Gregory VI
(? — 1048)
Benedict IX
(c. 1012 — between September 18, 1055 and January 9, 1056)
Sylvester III
(? — 1062 or 1063)
John XIX
(? — November 6, 1032)
Benedict VIII
(? — April 9, 1024)
Sergius IV
(? - May 12, 1012)
John XVIII
(? — July 18, 1009)
John XVII
(? — December 6, 1003)
Sylvester II
(946 — May 12, 1003)
…
The following list is common knowledge.
You can trace it here, for example.
…
St. Clement I.
(? - 97/101)
Saint Cletus (Anacletus, Anacletus)
(? - 88/90)
Saint Lin
(? - September 23, 76/78)
The Holy Apostle Peter
(? - c. 67)
© World Council of National Catholic Churches