Although Ss. Peter and Paul lived 2000 years ago, we can feel we know them. Two distinct personalities, two different characters, but – here’s the point – both transformed by faith in Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God; both proclaimers of the Gospel; both pillars, founders, spiritual fathers of the Church; both linked to Rome where both were martyred. Thinking of them, an early Christian wrote: “How blessed is the Church of Rome, on which the Apostles poured out all their doctrine along with their blood!” (Tertullian, De Praescriptione Hereticorum 36). It’s this gift of themselves to the Church, the word of their preaching and the eucharist of their martyrdoms, their doctrine and blood, we remember today. Thanks to this and to their ongoing intercession, the Church of Rome and its bishop retain a special place and role in the Catholic Christian world.
Didn’t recent events in Rome confirm this? The Lord is always building up his Church on the rock of Peter, but suddenly this became very visible. I’m thinking of the days between the passing of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo. St Peter’s arrest, imprisonment and rescue in the 1st reading, set just after Passover / Easter, was a kind of death and resurrection for him and the Church in Jerusalem. It was their share in the Paschal mystery of Christ. And so was what we lived this year between Easter Sunday on 20 April and the 8th of May. On Easter Sunday, Pope Francis managed his last words and blessing: Buona Pasqua, Happy Easter – the heart of the Christian message. On Easter Monday he passed to the Lord. On Easter Saturday, 26 April, his funeral was held, with his burial in our Lady’s Basilica, and the 9 days of mourning began, with a different cardinal leading the prayers for each. All was well done. Meanwhile the cardinals gathered to prepare for the conclave, to know each other better, to share their thoughts on the needs of the Church. Here, just as in the reading, was the whole church praying. And then, invoking the Holy Spirit, the Cardinals went into conclave. Speculation fluttered around like the pigeons. Some said the conclave would be long, full of divisions, but by God’s grace the new Peter was revealed. Habemus Papam. And Leo XIV appeared on the balcony with the words of the Easter Christ, “Peace be with you.” Thanks to the media coverage, millions of people throughout the world were caught up in these events, many of them not Catholic, not Christian. It was clear how many, and not only believers, feel the Pope to be a father. Speculation fell away before reality. There was a sense of peace and reassurance. The Lord’s promise that the gates of hell would not prevail was verified again. In a time when so much is sordid and erratic and antagonistic and uncertain, here were dignity, good order, fellowship and answered prayer. The wings of the divine Dove touched the world and the voice of Peter rang out: “God loves us. God loves you all, and evil will not prevail! All of us are in God’s hands. So, let us move forward, without fear, together, hand in hand with God and with one another! We are followers of Christ. Christ goes before us.” And we were consoled.
This is a Jubilee Year dedicated to hope. A year for rediscovering the hope of the Gospel and allowing