Saint Peter was Jesus’ most prominent disciple and after the Ascension took the initiative in the appointment of a successor to Judas among the Twelve. He first appears in the New Testament as a fisherman named Simon, making

introduced him to Jesus, who declared that He would make both brothers fishers of men.

Later in his ministry Jesus renamed Simon as Peter (Cephas in Aramaic), meaning ‘rock,’ as he would be destined to be the rock upon which the Church would be built. In Matthew 16:18-19 Jesus said, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

In the New Testament, Peter is always listed first among the disciples and witnessed the most important events of Jesus’ ministry. Although he betrayed Jesus by denying all knowledge of Him to the officials of the Jewish high priest, after the Resurrection Jesus appeared to him before any other apostle, and again enjoined him to care for the Church: When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17).

Peter obeyed these instructions, preaching to crowds, performing miracles in Christ’s name, surviving imprisonment by Herod Agrippa and miraculously escaping the night before he was due to be executed, and making missionary visits to Samaria and Antioch, where he was the city’s first bishop. The New Testament does not throw any light on the ancient tradition that Peter ministered also in Rome, although he settled there.

During the reign of the emperor Nero he was martyred by crucifixion, possibly head down. However, several near contemporary sources not only record his presence there, but that he founded the Church of Rome and was buried in the Vatican area. In fact the Church existed before his arrival but his martyrdom there gave the Church great prestige. The Church of Rome later claimed to be the chief Church in the West of the Empire, and the only one with assured apostolic roots. No other church apart from St. Peter’s, Rome, claims his relics.