Little did we know, last year at this time, that we would have a new pope, Leo XIV, and a U.S. bishop at that! Perhaps you noticed that there was not a consecration service for him, like we have for bishops. That’s because as a bishop, he already had the “fullness of priesthood,” the third degree of priesthood: ordained deacon, ordained priest and consecrated bishop. The role of bishop is sanctifying, teaching and ruling. So instead of a consecration, Pope Leo celebrated a first Mass as pope (several “first Masses,” in fact) as he assumed his office, the highest level of the “ruling role” of bishop — as now being the pope, he leads the whole Church.
Today we celebrate the feast of our two founding apostles. We Catholics name Peter as the first pope, even though the role of pope in Peter’s day was not yet named or defined. And it was Paul who more than anyone spread the faith beyond Judaism to the non-Jewish world. One point of identification between these two saints is Peter’s profession of faith in the Gospel. He knew Jesus of Nazareth in the flesh, and so he tells Jesus: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Paul came to the same conclusion in his famous conversion story, when a light blinded him, and a voice asked him: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
But another point of identification between these saints is Paul’s words in our second reading: “I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand.” A number of 4th century icons of the two saints exist. One of them shows the two embracing. This happened, oral tradition says, when they met on the famous “Roman road,” as Paul was being taken to prison (from which he would eventually be executed) and Peter was being led to his crucifixion. Thus the two men, who did not always agree (as Acts of the Apostles reports), embraced as they neared their deaths as martyrs. The role of pope is one of service, of shepherding, Pope Francis emphasized. Now that role is Leo’s. Let’s pray for him especially today.
— Blog entry by Sister Mary Garascia
The post June 29, Solemnity of Peter & Paul, Founders: a Sunday Scriptures blog first appeared on Sisters of the Precious Blood.