WAS PETER, JESUS’S OLDEST APOSTLE, THE FIRST POPE? - Don Hanley’s blog #63

After returning to the 21^st Century, I immediately realized I had failed to ask Peter whether Jesus had appointed him the first Pope. I mean the one supreme person who would lead the early Christian church and be followed by carefully chosen future popes or spiritual leaders. That question would have been even more critical about a hundred years ago, but it was still necessary. I just learned that our present Pope, Francis I, has appointed over 20 new Cardinals who will elect a new Pope soon. Francis still had a role in determining what Catholic people believed was proper behavior – like birth control, homosexuality, the appointment of bishops, and qualifications of candidates for priesthood, such as having women priests, and many other practices. 

My feelings were answered quickly as I sat with Mary, John, Paul, and Peter that night. I was glad Mary was always there for our gatherings, for we men needed the feminine touch that the Church still required. I remembered an old seminary prof. who often said, “The wheels of the Church turn very slowly, gentlemen.” Two thousand years seemed too slow for me. Mary put out her hand to me, and I took it. I kissed her on the cheek and then touched the hands of the three Apostles. I told Peter, “I am so glad you are still here, Peter. I failed to ask you what Jesus said to you so that you and the others accepted the idea that you, Peter, were the number one person to make sure his mission and message stayed alive for all mankind.” 

Peter looked at me with astonishment. “Did Jesus say that I, alone, would be responsible for telling all followers of Jesus exactly how to live and what to believe if they were to be faithful followers?” I nodded and noticed that Paul nodded and looked interested, and John and Mary paid attention and shook their heads a bit. Peter said, “First, where did you get a wild idea like that?”

I’m sure I looked more than a bit astonished and wide-eyed as I answered, “Well, uh, first, I’m from the 20th century, and I have been a Catholic Christian follower of Jesus all of my life and all followers like me have been taught that you, Peter, were the first Pope – the supreme leader of the Church. John and others have said that Jesus put his hand on you and said, ‘You are Peter, the Rock, upon you I will build my Church.’ I quoted Matthew’s Gospel to him. “What do you make of this?”

“That doesn’t sound right.  Jesus never talked like that. That sounds more like Matthew – Matt probably wanted to make sure that he would not become the first leader of the followers. I do remember Jesus telling me that I should keep his followers together and stay connected and helpful to one another. His basic message is simple: All people everywhere are born with the power to love and help one another. To realize and use that power, we must live a life of creativity and compassion. I believe He believed people often did not allow themselves to be as loving and kind as possible.  Jesus never made statements or commandments other than the ‘love oneself and one another’ commandments that everyone must follow.  John, what do you think about this?” John said, “I agree with you, Peter. Jesus did not want to make demands on us; we should be compassionate and kind to one another. I know he was very disappointed with Judas, but I never heard him ever condemning him. And Peter, I’m so glad you apologized to him after you denied knowing him when he was arrested. That had hurt him greatly, but he forgave you easily, did he not?” Peter, looking at the ground, murmured, “Yes.”

There was a relatively long silence, and I hesitantly broke it with: “So, if I understand this leadership issue, Peter, Jesus did designate you as the one He hoped would continue his journey and his healing message of radiant love among his followers. Would you agree?”

“Yes, I would agree with that, and I must insist that it was not his words that were the most important but the practice of spreading the knowledge and the practice of being kind, compassionate, and connected. Jesus did not want to be an icon of any kind, nor to be adored or worshipped, but for his followers, he should be a conveyer of the human and divine love that he hoped he had shown.” John nodded in agreement. And, for the first time, it seemed that I disappeared in a timely fashion . . . 

Be like Peter and radiate your kindness and compassion, and don’t just talk about the words and radiate!