Peter as the First Pope

Among the biblical scriptures most often used to defend the selection of Peter, and his successors, to lead the Church which Jesus founded is this passage from St. Matthew:  "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." (Matt. 16:13-19).

One interesting biblical fact that points clearly to Simon Peter's primacy among the twelve apostles and his importance to Christ's earthly ministry, is that he is mentioned by name (Simon, Peter, Cephas, Kephas) 195 times in the New Testament. The next most mentioned apostle is St. John, who is mentioned 29 times.  Whenever the apostles were named, Peter was always first. Sometimes the apostles were referred to as "Peter and those who were with him". On Pentecost it was Peter who first preached to the crowds and he worked the first healing. (If these apostles could heal people, what makes it so hard to believe that any Pope in the line of Peter couldn't do the same thing). Peter led the first council in Jerusalem and announced the first dogmatic decision.

Popes are the guardians of doctrine. Their task is to pass on, in its integrity, the teachings of the Catholic Church, and the Holy Spirit protects them in this. Were there "bad popes"? Yes there were. These men were not holy men! Maybe Peter was the best model for human failure in such a leadership role. Peter did deny Jesus three times. Some who are called, stumble and fall. Some like Peter repent and are saved. Others like Judas reject that grace. We need to remember that Jesus does not call saints. He calls sinners.

The moral miracle of the "bad popes" is that they were worldly men, public sinners, and never functioned as spiritual leaders nor touched or changed the deposit of faith of Christianity!