Personal Comments on biblical references to the Pope

When I read the letters of Peter from the bible, it always astonishes me to think that I am actually reading the first pope's words of wisdom. I took some time to scrutinize some of the passages in the Gospels and to look more closely at the relationship between Christ Jesus and Peter.

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Peter and Christ had such a strong relationship. Peter is the one that acknowledges that Jesus is the Messiah (Greek for "the Anointed One")--the Christ (Mt. 16, 16; Lk 9, 20). Even so, when Christ appears to the apostles after his resurrection and has breakfast with them, he asks Peter if he loves Christ three times (Jn 20, 15:17). Just as Peter denied Christ three times before (Lk 22, 56:62), Peter now proclaims his love for Christ three times.

There is no doubt that Christ has a special and strong relationship with Peter.

Peter is weak in faith, as when he became scared in the sea when he walked out to meet Christ (Mt 14, 29:31) or when he not only denies but curses and swears against Christ (Mk 14, 67:71). Despite his frail faith Christ always speaks to him with love and compassion. Peter knows he does not deserve to be near Christ. Pope John Paul II writes in his book Crossing the Threshold of Hope[1] that everyone is in debt to Peter when he says “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” (Lk 5, 8) Christ answers in very simple words, words that Pope John Paul II always uses in his writings: “do not be afraid” (Lk 5, 10).

Out of the twelve disciples, Christ tells him to tend his sheep.

The Catholic Church refers back to the Gospel of Matthew for the bible verse where Christ gives Peter the ‘keys of the kingdom,’ making Peter the first Pope of the Church.

“And I tell you, you are Peter (Petros) and on this rock (petra) I will build my church … I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Mt. 16, 18:19)

Christ Jesus makes other references to Peter caring for the followers of Christ in other passages. When Jesus predicts Peter’s denial in the Gospel of Luke, he also reveals that Christ has prayed that Peter’s faith will not fail, “and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Lk 22, 32). This is where Christ reveals that Peter will become responsible for the faith of others (Moran, 388)[2]. Peter is called to strengthen others in the faith. At first he was instructed by Jesus as one of the twelve apostles. Then he becomes a witness of Christ’s death and resurrection. When Jesus appears to seven of the apostles and has breakfast with them, he asks Peter if he loves him three times. After Peter replies, Christ says “feed my lambs,” “tend my sheep,” “feed my sheep” (Jn 21, 15:17)

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[1] John Paul II. Crossing the Threshold of Hope. "The Pope": A Scandal and a Mystery (pg. 4)

[2] Moran, Luis R. El Misterio de Cristo en la Historia de la Salvacion. Spain 1967