If I understand you correctly, you recognize all popes up to and including Pius XII. Is this correct?
Do I recognize all popes up to and including Pius XII?
I recognize all who Pius XII recognized.
It would be impossible to recognize all under the loose definition of “pope”, for there can only be one at a time and at one time in history there were three thought by various groups to be a valid pope!
There is another time when Saint Bernard led the Church in invalidating all the works of an imposter who seemed to reign eight years due to illicit politics, and was of no service to the flock.
Other than that I am not possessing of omniscient powers to know all the details of all New Testament history. Anyone who met the qualifications consistent with those recognized by Pope Pius XII I would recognize, for valid popes recognize other valid popes, for that is why God even gave popes to us, to lead. Valid leaders are true shepherds (whose voice the sheep recognize).
I am learning more history nearly daily and if I read the life of a saintly man whose life and works were consistent with the written gospels and the consistent teaching of the Church, and that man appeared to be validly a reigning pope with the declared saints of his day recognizing him as such, and all presenting these facts appeared to be historically authentic sources, I hope that I would recognize that pope as valid, and would seek to learn from him as time would allow.
This sort of evaluation has taken place here with popes such as Saint Pope Gregory the Great, Saint Pope Leo XIII, Saint Pope Pius V, Saint Pope Pius X, Pope Pius IX, Pope Pius XI, and Pope Pius XII, for example.
How about you New Yorker? What is your criteria for belief and trust in Vicars of Christ on earth?