Was Peter the First Pope?

"Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J., has been elected as Supreme Pontiff, the 265th successor of Peter." -VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE, VATICAN CITY, MARCH 13, 2013. 

"The bishop of Rome has the right of primacy above the universal Church, since he is the successor of Saint Peter, who received such preogative from Jesus Christ." -THE PRIMACY OF THE BISHOP OF ROME DURING THE FIRST THREE CENTURIES, 1903, BY VINCENT ERMONI. 

"If, then, anyone shall say . . .that the Roman Pontiff is not the successor of Blessed Peter in this primacy; let him be anathema [that is, be declared a heretic]." -THE FIRST VATICAN COUNCIL, JULY 18, 1870.

TO  MILLIONS of Catholics around the world, the 1870 decreed of the first Vatican Council is a dogma of the church, a binding teaching. However, the  question must be asked, Is it a Scriptural teaching?   In addition, is Pope Francis really a successor of the apostle Peter?  And was Peter the first pope?  

Next time: Was Peter the First Pope? - "UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH" 

From the Watchtower magazine