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 :I just finished reading the book Saints and Sinners by Eamon Duffy published by Yale University Press.  It says that Peter did not found the church at Rome, that there were already Christians there before he came but that he did found the church at Antioch.  It also says that it is evident from all the Gospels and early church writings that Peter was seen as the leader of the church by virtue of his consecration by Jesus.  This book also says that although there is confusion as to the organization amongst the Christian communities in the early years, there is evidence of church leaders referred to in letter from a Roman.  The first list of bishops comes from Irenaeus but there is an earlier account of a meeting with a church leader by Polycarp and and Anicetus in Rome in the mid 150's. Polycarp, this book says, knew the Apostle John in his old age.  He therefore strongly urged direct apostolic authority for the practice of the churches in Asia Minor and their satelite ethnic congregations in Rome itself of keeping Easter at Passover.  The author of this book calls the list by Irenaeus, ""suspiciously tidy"" but then offers no other explanation as to who founded the church or any evidence that it is not authentic.  This book does not refute or deny what the National Geographic book says.  In fact, if you omit the authors specualtive negative remarks, Saints and Sinners says the same thing that National Geographic says.  These books are in agreement on facts.  I urge any editor who is going to challenge listing Jesus as founder of the Roman Catholic Church to please read this book Saints and Sinners pages 1-13 and the National Geographic book.  Both are listed as references in the article if you need ISBN numbers.  This issue should not keep coming up again on this article as it detracts from actally fixing the things that really need attention like the history section.  If someone keeps bringing this issue up, it is difficult not to look at it as harassment especially when I have two top sources to support the entry in the article and no one has anything better. Thanks.   "