Happy Feast of Saints Peter and Paul

Happy Feast of Saints Peter and Paul!

These are the two great apostles, martyrs, and patron saints of the Church of Rome. The Bishops of Rome through the ages and even to the present day have received from Saint Peter the special authority and ministry entrusted to him by Jesus (see Matthew 16:13-19). Jesus said to Peter, "'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' He said to him, 'Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.' He said to him, 'Tend my sheep'" (John 21:16).

Jesus has promised to remain always with us, and He provides abundantly for us in the poverty and struggles of this earthly life. He is with us and is working to transform us through the power of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and within the communio of His Church, where we are united to one another in Him, nourished by His Body and Blood in the Eucharist and built up by all the Sacraments, and guided by the Successors of the Apostles (the Bishops throughout the world) united to the Pope of Rome, the Successor of Saint Peter. Let us therefore adhere to the Lord with trust, no matter what, as did Peter when he said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of God" (John 6:68-69).

We continue to be inspired today by the great faith of Saints Peter and Paul, who endured many trials and finally shed their blood as witnesses of Christ. Their witness reaches us vividly from the Scriptures. Peter encourages believers: "Beloved, rejoice in the measure that you share Christ’s sufferings. When his glory is revealed, you will rejoice exultantly. Happy are you when you are insulted for the sake of Christ, for then God’s Spirit in its glory has come to rest on you" (1 Peter 4:13-14). And Paul expresses this in a very personal way to Timothy: "I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance" (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

Today is a day of joy and hope for us, for Jesus continues to dwell among us concretely in this world through the essential service of the successors of Saint Peter (the Popes), who hold “the keys to the kingdom of heaven,” and the apostolic heritage of Saint Paul, who opened the riches of the Gospel to the “Gentiles” — the peoples of all the earth and all of history.