How many popes have there been, starting with the Apostle Peter to Pope Francis?

The correct choice is 266 because this number reflects the total count of popes from Saint Peter, considered the first pope, to the current pope, Francis, as of October 2023. The papal lineage has been well-documented throughout history, with each pope serving as the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The number 266 includes all historical popes, accounting for those who served in various capacities and periods throughout the centuries, including those who served for very short durations. This ensures an accurate tally from the inception of the papacy with Peter, who was one of Jesus Christ's apostles, and through the long and complex history of the church up to Pope Francis.

Other counts, like 200, 300, or 350, do not align with the widely accepted historical records maintained by the church and scholarly sources, which detail the succession of the papacy and ensure transparency through documentation.