On February 22, Catholics celebrate a day closely linked to the papacy—the feast of the chair of St. Peter. It symbolizes the authority Jesus gave to Peter as the head of the apostles and foundation of the Church.
POPE FRANCIS
June 29, 2023
This is all in Peter: the strength of the rock, the reliability of the stone and the littleness of a simple pebble. He is not a superman—he is a human being like us, like every one of us, who, in his imperfection, generously says “yes” to Jesus.
At the back of St. Peter's Basilica, under the Holy Spirit stained glass window is this chair encased in a bronze throne.
On this day pilgrims visiting the basilica will witness one of the traditions that mark this day: the statue of the pope, near the high altar, dressed in the solemn pontifical vestments. It is one of only two days when this happens. The other is on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul.
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