Father Christopher Zugger

These two pillars of the Church were killed on this day in the year 67, during the first persecution of Christians ordered by a roman emperor. Nero was being blamed for the destruction of two-thirds of the imperial capital of Rome in a massive nine-day fire in the year 64, and he shifted the blame to the new Christian Church. Peter was crucified upside down, and buried on the Vatican Hill, which was a large cemetery outside of the city. Saint Peter’s basilica is not only built over his grave, but the high altar is in a direct line with his tomb. Paul was a Roman citizen, so he was beheaded, and he is buried in the altar of the basilica of Saint Paul’s, outside the city walls.

Confessio leading to tomb of St Peter in Rome

Paul was erudite, well-educated, born as a Roman citizen, conversant in multiple languages, able to debate with the Greek philosophers in Athens. Peter was a middle-class fisherman, impulsive, emotional, probably older than Paul. Peter had walked with the Lord throughout his public ministry, Paul was brought into the service of the gospel by Jesus Himself during the famous apparition on the road to Damascus.

Tomb of Saint Paul in Basilica in Rome

The two great Apostles

When they are shown together, Peter has the keys, given to him by Jesus as a sign of his stewardship over the Church on earth and Paul with a sword, but both hold books that represent their epistles. Paul’s theology is key to the Christian faith, Peter’s role as leader and guide literally provided a solid foundation for the early Church to build upon.

What are the names of popes who were heretics?

None.

There were heretical patriarchs in Constantinople, Alexandria, and Antioch, but never in Rome.

Pope Liberius condemned Saint Athanasius after he had been jailed and tortured, but he refused to sign a heretical statement of faith. Pope Honorius failed to condemn the Monothelite heresy because he did not grasp the Greek grammar involved, The gift of the Holy Spirit has protected the Catholic Church throughout its history, a history that is unbroken and rooted in Jesus, not in Peter or any other man.

Christ’s promise to Peter and the apostles has remained intact ever since that dramatic day when he promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against the  Church built on the rock of Peter. We have had corrupt popes, weak popes, popes who failed at their job, but never a heretical one.

The Church has been entrusted to Peter’s care – that is the symbolism of the keys. Peter and all those who have followed Peter in the seat of Peter have lived out their responsibility as Jesus’ vicars, his stewards responsible for the kingdom, for the proclamation of the Good News to the nations of the world.

Paul’s theology remains critical to prayer, spiritual writing, church structures, and how we interact with one another. And both were so profoundly affected by Jesus and their encounters with Him, so transformed, that they were willing to die on His behalf. May we have the courage to stand firm in the Catholic faith, and to go forward in faith. Let us ask Saints Peter and Paul to imitate them in their fidelity to Christ! Their faith and fidelity inspired the first Martyrs of the Church of Rome, who suffered so grievously under Nero. May we be as strong in faith as they all were.