Saint Peter the Apostle, Prince of the Apostles and First Pope

June 29

1st Century BC / AD — 1st Century AD

Historically Documented

I. Overview & Petrine Primacy

Saint Peter, originally named Simon bar-Jonah, was a Galilean fisherman called by Jesus Christ to be the Prince of the Apostles (Princeps Apostolorum) and the foundation rock upon which Christ built His Church. As the first Vicar of Christ and Bishop of Rome, Peter received the supreme keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, establishing the unbroken lineage of the Roman Papacy.

II. Gospel Witness & Call of Christ

Simon was a native of Bethsaida and a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee alongside his brother Andrew. Upon meeting Jesus, Our Lord looked upon him and said: "Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is interpreted Peter [Rock]." (John 1:42, Douay-Rheims).

Peter witnessed Christ's major miracles, including the miraculous draught of fishes, walking on the water (Matthew 14:28-31), the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor (Matthew 17:1-9), and the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.

III. The Confession at Caesarea Philippi & Primacy Promises

The central theological moment of Peter's ministry occurred at Caesarea Philippi: "Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven." (Matthew 16:15-19).

At the Last Supper, Christ prayed specifically for Peter's faith: "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and thou, being once converted, confirm thy brethren." (Luke 22:32).

IV. Passion, Denial, Resurrection & Restoration

During Our Lord's Passion, Peter succumbed to human weakness and denied knowing Christ three times in the courtyard of the High Priest. Struck by grief when the cock crowed, Peter wept bitterly in true contrition.

Following the Resurrection, Our Lord appeared to Peter individually (Luke 24:34) and publicly restored him beside the Sea of Galilee, asking three times: "Simon, son of John, lovest thou me?" Upon Peter's triple affirmation of love, Christ solemnly commissioned him: "Feed my lambs... Feed my sheep." (John 21:15-17).

V. Acts of the Apostles & Early Church Leadership

After Christ's Ascension and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Peter stood up with the Eleven as the undisputed leader of the early Church:

• Pentecost Sermon: Preached the first apostolic sermon, converting three thousand souls (Acts 2:14-41).
• First Miraculous Healing: Healed the lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple (Acts 3:1-10).
• Gentile Mission: Received the vision at Joppa and baptized the Roman centurion Cornelius at Caesarea, establishing that Gentile believers were admitted into the New Covenant through faith and Baptism (Acts 10).
• Council of Jerusalem: Presided at the Council of Jerusalem (c. 49 AD), declaring that Gentile converts were not bound by the ceremonial laws of Moses (Acts 15).

VI. Petrine Epistles & Authorship Context

Saint Peter is traditionally credited with the authorship of two canonical epistles in the New Testament (1 Peter and 2 Peter). In 1 Peter, written from "Babylon" (Rome), Peter addresses Christians scattered throughout Asia Minor, offering profound doctrine on the royal priesthood of believers (1 Peter 2:9), the meaning of Christian suffering, and pastoral vigilance. While 1 Peter reflects early Petrine preaching amidst Roman trials, Catholic biblical scholarship distinguishes canonical apostolic attribution from modern historical questions regarding the composition of 2 Peter, which Catholic dogma receives as divinely inspired Sacred Scripture passed down under Peter's solemn apostolic authority.

VII. Roman Episcopate, Martyrdom & Legacy

Guided by divine providence, Peter established the Episcopal See of Antioch before traveling to Rome, the imperial capital, where he served as the first Bishop of Rome for over two decades. During the fierce persecution under Emperor Nero following the Great Fire of Rome (c. 64-67 AD), Peter was arrested and condemned to death.

According to early Patristic witnesses (Saint Clement of Rome, Tertullian, Origen, Eusebius), Peter deemed himself unworthy to be crucified in the exact manner of his Divine Master, requesting to be crucified upside down on the Vatican Hill. He was buried near the Circus of Nero, where the High Altar of Saint Peter's Basilica stands directly over his tomb today.

VIII. Sources & Historical Confidence

Saint Peter's life, primacy, and Roman martyrdom are supported by Sacred Scripture (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Galatians, 1 & 2 Peter) and 1st/2nd-century historical evidence confirmed by modern archaeological excavations beneath Saint Peter's Basilica (the Scavi), which discovered Peter's 1st-century tomb inscribed with Petros eni ("Peter is here").