Towards the end of the first century, Pope Clement (collaborator of the apostle Paul [Philippians 4:3; Ecclesiastical History III, 4, 9; III, 15] and third successor of Peter as Bishop of Rome [Against the heresies III, 3, 3]) wrote a letter addressed to the Church of Corinth. The cause of the composition of this letter was the unrest that arose among the Christians of Corinth. Some had rebelled against the presbyters, and arbitrarily dismissed them. Therefore, with his letter, Pope Clement calls those men to repentance and obedience to priests (Corinthians 57:1-2), threatening them with serious sanctions if not obeyed (Corinthians 59:1). Pope Clement's letter to the Corinthians is a testimony of how already in the first century the Bishop of Rome had the authority to make arrangements for another ecclesial community. Eusebius tells us that the warning of the Bishop of Rome was accepted and put into practice by the Corinthians (Ecclesiastical History IV, 23, 11). Eusebius also tells us that Clement's letter - whose name is found in the book of life (Philippians 4:3) - was highly esteemed and publicly read in many Christian communities (Ecclesiastical History III, 16). Pope Clement's letter affirms the authority of bishops and priests over the faithful, and the primacy of the Church of Rome over others.
Cristiani Cattolici Romani 