Saint Peter and Papal
Primacy
Objection: “St. Peter was not the head of the other Apostles. All of
them were equal in power and authority!”
It has been said by many outside the Church that if you disprove the
primacy of St. Peter (i.e., show that he was not the leader of but only equal
to the other Apostles), you undermine the Papacy and, therefore, the very
foundations of the Catholic Church.
It is evident in numerous places in the Bible that St. Peter was made by
Christ, and regarded by others, as the head of the Apostles:
(i)
The keys of the kingdom of heaven to bind and loose on earth were
given by Our Lord to St. Peter (St. Matt. 16:19).
(ii)
St. Peter’s name is listed first when he, St. James and St. John are
mentioned as being with Our Lord at the Transfiguration (St. Matt.
17:1).
(iii)
Our Lord made St. Peter’s home His headquarters while staying in
Capernaum (St. Mark 1:29).
(iv)
The resurrection of Christ was first pronounced by the angel to St.
Peter (St. Mark 16:7).
(v)
Our Lord prayed for St. Peter alone and instructed him to
“strengthen your brethren” (St. Luke 22:31-32).
(vi)
After His resurrection, St. Peter was the first of all the Apostles to
whom Christ appeared (St. Luke 24).
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