Tu es Petrus
Image: Mosaic from St Peter's chapel in the crypt of Westminster Cathedral, London.
In the Gospel for this weekend, we hear St Peter’s declaration of faith “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus’ response to Peter’s declaration is to entrust to him the governance of the Church, the rock on which the Church will be built. The Papacy, the office of the Pope is not something invented by men, it is an institution and office founded by Christ in the Gospel for the governance of the Church. The supremacy of the Pope is one of the most contested and rejected issues in ecumenical dialogue, but one that is so important to the mission and life of the Church.
The Pope provides a figure of unity for a universal and diverse Church; it is through the Pope as the Successor of Peter that the Church can speak clearly and with authority in an ever changing and challenging world. We in our own family lives, the Church and society are no different. We are in need of a figure of unity who leads and guides with charity. Jesus knows our human weakness and in entrusting to Peter and the Apostles the power to bind and loose, He leaves us a means of guidance and leadership to steer the ship, that is the Church, on the tempestuous waters of our time.
“And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” This is perhaps one of my favourite and go to lines in Scripture. Why? For the very simple reason that even when everything seems to be getting on top of you, when one looks at the state of our society, violence and discord that in these short words we hear the Lord’s promise and His assurance. Even if we suffer in the short term, Jesus is always faithful to His promises and ultimately evil can never triumph, the gates of hell shall not prevail. But also He gives us a means to begin again, through the sacrament of confession. The Apostles are entrusted with the mission of forgiving sins and for those who are impenitent to bind those sins.
O God, Shepherd and Ruler of all Thy faithful people, look mercifully upon Thy servant Leo, whom Thou hast chosen as shepherd to preside over Thy Church. Grant him, we beseech Thee, that by his word and example, he may edify those over whom he hath charge, so that together with the flock committed to him, may he attain everlasting life.