Jesus Christ consecrated his apostles to the priesthood (John 13:15-16) and gave them a mission (Matthew 28:19-20), but he entrusted Simon with a very special task, he made him the foundation on which his Church would be founded (Matthew 16:15-18), so much so that he even changed Simon’s name to Cephas, an Aramaic word that means “stone” (and “petra” in Latin), and that is why we now know the apostle Simon as Saint Peter.
Not only would Jesus Christ would found his Church upon Peter’s faith, but he would also give him authority over it (Matthew 16:19). Peter and his successors, therefore, are the base or foundation of the Church and in turn its highest authority on Earth. It is the Pope, in whom remains the function that the Lord uniquely entrusted to Peter, head of the College of Bishops, Vicar of Christ and Pastor of the universal Church on Earth (Code of Canon Law 331).
Some will say how this authority was given to Peter, who denied the Lord three times during His Passion (Matthew 26:69-75). Let us remember that Jesus Christ not only forgave Peter but also reaffirmed him in the mission that he had entrusted to him (John 21:15-17). But this is not the only reason to put him as an authority over his Church, but Peter is a man of humble origins and a sinner like us, he is someone with whom we can identify more directly. Peter is a person who was completely transformed and changed by his encounter with Jesus, he is an example of how we can achieve holiness even from our origins as sinners.
Let each one of us follow in the footsteps of our Lord, let us recognize the authority of the successor of Peter entrusted by Jesus Christ himself, let us pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be for the intentions of the Holy Father and may he continue to shepherd the Church.