The Lord Jesus before his passion chose, as you know, certain disciples whom he called apostles. In a virtually unique way Peter represented the entire Church.

The Lord Jesus before his passion chose, as you know, certain disciples whom he called apostles. In a virtually unique way Peter represented the entire Church. In his capacity as representative of the whole Church, these words were fittingly addressed to him: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” It was not one man, but the whole Christ, which received these keys. Peter’s prominence was acknowledged inasmuch as he stood for the one, universal Church when the Lord said to him, “I will give you” the power that was given to all. That you may understand that the Church received the keys of the kingdom of heaven, remember that our Lord said to all his apostles, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” and added immediately, “Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven. Whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.”

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