The Chair of St. Peter refers to the special role and mission that Jesus bestowed on Peter, designating him as the rock on which He would build his Church.
Jesus chose Peter to sit in his place to teach and care for his flock, singling him out from among the other Apostles.
The Chair of St. Peter represents the authority, unity, and charity that the pope shares with all of the bishops in carrying out the mission of Jesus and his Church.
Every Catholic bishop presides in a particular area, known as a see or diocese where they have an designated seat (cathedra) in the main church (cathedral). As the Bishop of Rome, the pope is the successor to St. Peter and Vicar of Christ.
The pope overseas the universal Church from this seat of spiritual authority in the See of Rome, also known as the Holy See, Petrine See, or Apostolic See.
When the pope speaks with the full teaching authority as the successor of St. Peter, he is said to be speaking ex cathedra, or “from the chair”. These statements are infallible when they refer to faith or morals.
An actual chair that may have been used by St. Peter while he served as pope was enclosed in bronze and turned into a work of art. The chair, known as Cathedra Petri or “the Chair of Peter” in Latin, is now kept at the Vatican in St. Peter’s Basilica.
The Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter the Apostle on February 22 each year to give thanks for the special commission that was given to St. Peter and passed down to the current pope.
St. Peter was the first pope:
From the chair, today’s pope shepherds Jesus’ flock:
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi He asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven; and whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven.”
Matthew 16: 13-19
Symbolizing the authority that Jesus gave to Peter:
A symbol of authority and unity:
Symbolizing a special role and mission:
The Gospel passage presents Peter who, prompted by a divine inspiration, shows his total adherence to Jesus, the promised Messiah and Son of God. In response to this clear profession of faith, which Peter also makes on behalf of the other Apostles, Christ reveals the mission He intends to entrust to him, that of being the “rock” on which the entire spiritual edifice of the Church is built. “You are Peter!”. The ministry, entrusted to Peter and his Successors, of being the solid rock on which the ecclesial community is supported is the guarantee of the Church’s unity, the safeguarding of the integrity of the deposit of faith and the foundation of the communion of all the members of God’s People. Today’s liturgical feast is thus an invitation to reflect on the Bishop of Rome’s “Petrine service” to the universal Church.
Pope John Paul II, Homily, 22 February 1998
The authority to protect the original teaching of Jesus:
A guarantee of fidelity to Jesus’ teaching:
Expressing theology, doctrine, and spirituality:
The Lord made Simon alone, whom He named Peter, the “rock” of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock. “The office of binding and loosing which was given to Peter was also assigned to the college of apostles united to its head.” This pastoral office of Peter and the other apostles belongs to the Church’s very foundation and is continued by the bishops under the primacy of the Pope.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 881
What the Chair of St. Peter means to Catholics today:
More than just a physical object:
The Truth, Goodness, and Beauty of the Catholic Church
Taking the presence of God seriously:
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