Jill Bevilacqua takes a look at the Gospel for the Feast of the Patron Saints of Rome,
Sts Peter and Paul, in her programme "There's more in the Sunday Gospel than meets
the eye". Listen: Gospel Mt
16:13-19 When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he
asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They
replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah
or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon
Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus
said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and
blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say
to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and
the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you
the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be
bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”