First Letter of Peter 5,1-4.
So I exhort the presbyters among you, as a fellow presbyter and witness to the sufferings of Christ and one who has a share in the glory to be revealed. Tend the flock of God in your midst, (overseeing) not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly. Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Psalms 23(22),1-3.3-4.5.6.
A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.
In green pastures you let me graze; to safe waters you lead me;
you restore my strength. You guide me along the right path for the sake of your name.
you restore my strength. You guide me along the right path for the sake of your name.
Even when I walk through a dark valley, I fear no harm for you are at my side; your rod and staff give me courage.
You set a table before me as my enemies watch; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Only goodness and love will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 16,13-19.
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
Saint Leo the Great (?-461), Pope and Doctor of the Church
4th sermon for the anniversary of his ordination, PL54, 14a
Nothing escaped the wisdom and power of Christ: the natural elements were at his service, spirits obeyed him, angels ministered to him… And yet, out of the whole universe, Peter alone was chosen to preside over the calling of all peoples and the supervision of all the apostles and Fathers of the Church. Thus, even though there were among the People of God many priests and pastors, Peter would rule over them all in person even as Christ also rules over them as their head…
The Lord asks all the apostles what men say about him. And they all say the same thing insofar as they reveal the doubts originating from human ignorance. But when the Lord demands to know what the disciples themselves think, the first to confess the Lord is he who is first in rank of the apostles. Since he was the one to say: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God”, Jesus responds to him: “Blessed are you Simon, son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.” That is to say: Blessed are you because it is my Father who has taught this to you. Your earthly point of view did not deceive you, but heavenly inspiration is what has taught you. It is not flesh and blood that have allowed you to see me, but he of whom I am the only Son.”
“And so I say to you”: that is to say, just as my Father has manifested my divinity to you, so I, too, will make you understand your superiority. “You are Peter”: that is to say, I am the solid rock, the cornerstone who, of two peoples, has made both one (Eph 2,14), the foundation stone besides which none can be laid (1Cor 3,11), but you, too, are a rock, for you are firm through my strength and that which belongs to me by my power you share with me by participation. “On this rock I will build my Church”. On the firmness of this foundation, he says, I will build an eternal temple, and my Church, whose top is to enter heaven, will rise up upon the solidity of this faith.
" 'You are the Messiah,' Simon Peter answered, 'the Son of the living God!' " –Matthew 16:16
Every denomination has a "pope." Every denomination, no matter how large or small, has someone who occupies a prime position of authority. The Catholic Church has a Pope. In fact, she has an unbroken succession of pontiffs stretching all the way back to St. Peter, her first Pope.
Just as the patriarchs Abram and Jacob received new names to signify their special mission, so Jesus gives the name of Cephas (or Peter), which means 'Rock,' to Simon. This name change clearly illustrates to Jesus' followers that Peter occupies a place of primacy among the apostles.
Jesus gives Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Mt 16:19). The significance of this action is rooted in Isaiah in the passage where Eliakim receives the keys of the office of prime minister held by Shebna. Isaiah prophesies God's word to Eliakim: "I will place the key of the house of David on his shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open" (Is 22:22). Peter is also commissioned with the power to bind and loose.
Doubters have tried for centuries to deny that Jesus founded a visible Church under the leadership of St. Peter. However, an honest study of Scripture and history causes their best efforts to crumble like a house built on sand (see Mt 7:26-27).
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