The Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter

February 22, 2025

‍

“Out of the whole world one man, Peter, is chosen to preside at the calling of all nations, and to be set over all the apostles and all the fathers of the Church.”

-St. Leo the Great

Our Church has such a rich history and is deeply rooted in the faith of the early Christian leaders and communities. The Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter spans the Church’s history from the beginning to the present. The "chair" to which this feast refers is the cathedra, or office, of the Apostle Peter. In today’s Gospel we listen as Christ names St. Peter as his successor on earth, which then continues to be passed on to his successors as Bishop of Roma.

The history and tradition behind the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter begins in a history lesson about how the Chair of St. Peter is connected to the Holy See. It all comes back to that Latin so beautifully taught both Latin class and in theology. The term Holy See comes from the Latin Sancta Sedes, or “Holy Chair”. The chair, or throne, which is the cathedra is the place of authority given to the Holy Father. So, while literally, there is a chair (and a magnificent one, at that), in St. Peter’s in Rome, the Holy See or Holy Chair is the position of the Holy Father, the Pope.

On February 22, the date designated by the Church to celebrate the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, we read that St. Peter, one of the 12 Apostles, was recognized by Jesus as the leader of the Apostles and the future Church: “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.” (Mt 16:18) Church history holds the tradition that Peter was the first Bishop of Rome, the first to “sit” in the Chair.

Today’s readings put everything into place. In the first reading, Peter asks the leaders of the early Christian communities to tend to their flocks by example, “overseeing not by constraint but willingly.” Then in the Gospel, as Peter announces Jesus as “the Son of the living God,” Jesus names Peter the rock on which he will build the Church, giving him the keys to the kingdom of heaven. By giving Peter the keys to the Kingdom, Jesus confers on him the responsibility to govern and teach the Church. This responsibility is not about power over others but is a gift from God for the purpose of serving the flock as the Good Shepherd would.

We understand that today’s Feast is not about celebrating a piece of furniture, though the gilt bronze casing sculpted by Bernini surrounding the relic might make one think otherwise, it is celebrating the unity of our Church. We celebrate the love, presence, and protection of Christ for us, the Church. When we think of the “chair” of something, we symbolically think of a leader or the head of something, and this is how it is with the Chair of Peter. When referencing St. Peter, we are recalling the teaching power of Peter, the first pope, and his successors. From this chair, the pope shepherds Christ’s flock.

The chair of Peter is not simply the chair of the local bishop, because we know that the Bishop of Rome (the pope) has his chair in the cathedral of John Lateran. The Chair of Peter is celebrating the role of the pope as the shepherd or bishop of the universal, world-wide Church. Jesus himself gave the authority to Peter to lead and guide the Church in Jesus’ place. St. Paul acknowledged this when he recognized Peter as the first among the apostles (Gal 1:18). Today, and throughout history, we believe that this authority and role is passed down from pope to pope. This authority is bigger than any one person. Regardless of what personality or peculiarities a pope brings to the office, the role will outlive him to see the next pope and beyond occupy the chair.

We celebrate the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, commemorating Christ’s choosing Peter to sit in his place as the servant-authority of the whole Church. We rejoice in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, thanking Jesus for the authority he shares with humans, and praying for the person God has chosen to occupy the Chair of Saint Peter today.

‍

References:

• https://www.ncregister.com/blog/9-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-chair-of-st-peter
• https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022225.cfm
• https://www.simplycatholic.com/the-throne-of-truth-what-is-the-feast-of-the-chair-of-st-peter/
• https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2018-02/chair-of-st--peter-.html
• https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/the-holy-see-and-the-chair-of-st-peter.html
• https://classroom.synonym.com/did-peter-paul-start-the-catholic-church-12087125.html
• https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/saints/saints-stories-for-all-ages/chair-of-peter/
• http://stpetersbasilica.info/Altars/Cathedra/Cathedra.htm
• https://depts.washington.edu/hrome/Authors/juliatm/BerninisworkatStPeters_1/pub_zbarticle_view_printable.html
• https://youtu.be/JEV7asjRXJQ
• https://aleteia.org/daily-prayer/tuesday-february-22/
• Rome – More Images: The Chair of Saint Peter
• Bernini’s Cathedra Petri in the Basilica of St. Peters, Vatican City

‍