God has chosen this ordinary and even a little rough Galilean, to be His representative from the Jewish Christians to preach the gospels. Peter was born Simon, son of Jonah (Matthew 16:17); together with his fisherman brother Andrew, he answered the definitive calling and followed Jesus (Mark 1:16-18). Jesus had a special bond with Peter.
Following Jesus to travel and preach, Peter remained always in the immediate vicinity of the Lord. Together with James and John, Peter witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration on Mt. Tabor (Mark 9:2-8) and sorrowfully prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:33). He always spoke on behalf of the Twelve Apostles (Mark 10:28), and was the first one to proclaim Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). He was indeed troubled by Jesus’ Passion (Mark 8:31-33) as although he had pledged to be always faithful to Jesus (Mark14: 29-31), he abandoned the Lord (Luke 22:54-60), which he did bitterly regret (Luke 22:61-62).
Jesus had prayed for this warm but weak man that his faith might not fail, so he could turn back to strengthen his brothers (Luke 22:31-32). This was accomplished when Peter professed his faith openly. He was thus instituted by Christ as the “rock” of the church, “you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:17-19). After His resurrection, Jesus entrusted Peter to carry on His work of salvation (John 21:15-18), and foretold how Peter would die to glorify God (John 21:18).
In the year of 66 or 67 A.D., Peter was executed during the Neronian persecution, crucified with his upside down as so great was his desire to suffer for the Lord. He was buried at the foot of the Vatican Hills, where the present day Saint Peter’s Basilica stands.
Being the Prince of the Apostles, Peter acted in accordance to his faith and diakonia. He was undoubtedly perceptible since the early church as is evident in the “Acts of the Apostles”. Peter and his successors, the popes, are the testimony of the Church’s unity and love.