George Matulaitis Journal

you love me more than these others do?”—he receives Peter’s affirmation: “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Christ says to him: “Feed my lambs . . . look after my sheep” (cf., Jn 21:15-17). That meant: rule all of my Church—both the flock and the shepherds. “As the Father sent me, so I am sending you” (Jn 20: 21). I am the Shepherd, and you also will fulfill the duties of shepherd. Anyone who listens to you, lis- tens to me; anyone who rejects you, rejects me (cf., Lk 10:16). And so that Peter, that Rock, would no longer falter, Christ promises to support him with His own power: “And know that I am with you always, yes, to the end of time” (Mt 28:20). So that he himself would not err nor lead his flock into error, Christ gives him infallibility: “Simon, Simon! Satan, you must know, has got his wish to sift you all like wheat; but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail, and once you have recov- ered,you in your turn must strengthen your brothers” (Lk 22:31-32). But when the Spirit of joy and of truth whom Christ will send, comes it will lead him to the complete truth (cf., Jn 16:13). And from then on, St. Peter through his successors is the strength and support of the Church. All this is so transparently clear. After Christ has ascended into heav- en, the apostles do not choose another leader. St. Peter is their leader. He is the first to speak on behalf of all the apostles to the crowds at Pentecost and to teach them (cf., Acts 2:14) . He accepts the first Jewish converts into the Church at Jerusalem (cf., Acts 2:37-41) and also the first Gentile converts at Caesarea (cf., Acts 10:47). He orders the election of another apostle to take the place of Judas (cf. Acts 1: 15-21). He calls the first council and presides over it (cf., Acts 15: 6-7). When St. Peter dies, the Corinthians turn not to the still-living apostle John in matters of faith, but to the Pope, St. Clement, successor of St. Peter. Thus, all the ages, both in life and in practice, hold to this principle: wherever Peter is—there is the Church. All affirm with St. Augustine: Rome has spoken, the matter is settled. During the nineteenth century, that unbelieving and unstable age, all the bishops of the Church convened for the Vatican Council* and clearly proclaimed to the whole world that the Pope has the supreme authority in the Church and that when he teaches as head and shepherd of the whole Church on matters of faith or morals, he 350 * Vatican Council I, summoned by Pope Pius IX, was in session from Dec. 8, 1869, to Oct. 20, 1870; 601 bishops participated.