Peter’s primacy is "decisive" in the history of the Church, which bears witness to the "pre-eminent position" of the only apostle whose name Jesus changed in the "apostolic group" and in the first Christian community. It was repeated today by the Pope who after those of May 17th and 24th has resumed for the third time, during the usual general audience, speaking of the figure of the apostle Peter. "Christ’s will to give Peter special relevance within the College of Apostles began Benedict XVI as he recalled that "in the Old Testament, the changing of a name usually announces the entrusting of a mission" "is shown by many clues", and Peter himself "is aware of his special position". Among the many "clues" of Peter’s "pre-eminence" among the Apostles and within the Church, the Pope mentioned "the profession of faith that in the name of the Twelve Apostles he makes near Caesarea Philippi. To Jesus who asks: Who do you think I am?, Peter answers: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus in return utters the solemn statement that defines once and for all Peter’s role within the Church: and I say: You are Peter and on this stone I will build my Church… I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, and all that you tie on earth will be tied in heaven, and all that you untie on earth will be untied in heaven". (to be continued)
