The Chair of St. Peter at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy, is seen in March 2025. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Are Catholics honoring a piece of furniture? – The history of the Chair of St. Peter
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
This year, Feb. 22 falls on a Sunday and the Church will observe this day as the first Sunday of Lent, embracing what is inaugurated on Ash Wednesday as a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Though lost this year due to it being on a Sunday, Feb. 22 is the traditional Feast of the Chair of Peter. This very title may seem confusing, if not humorous. Some may ask why Catholics observe a feast to honor a piece of furniture, even if it is a hallowed and distinct piece of furniture that may have belonged to St. Peter, one of the 12 apostles and the first Bishop of Rome.
Ok, the feast is not about a physical chair. Rather, it is a companion feast to the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul observed each year on June 29 to honor the co-founders of the Church of Rome.
The “chair” – Cathedra in Latin from which comes the word cathedral – represents Peter’s teaching authority and his role as the rock on which Jesus Christ built his Church. The observance of this feast has roots in the early Church traditions honoring Peter’s time in Antioch and Rome.
The veneration emphasizes the Church’s unity, the pope’s teaching office, and the continuity of faith from the apostles to our present day. The prominent role of Peter is established in the 16th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel in the account of Jesus asking the disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”
The disciples repeated what they had heard: “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
But Jesus, ever the teacher, persists, “But you, who do you say that I am?” Here Peter moves to the head of the class with his profession of faith: “You are the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the Living God.”
With Peter’s bold proclamation Jesus assigned the name Peter to him who had been known as Simon, son of Jonah: “You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church.”
This honor likely surprised the other Apostles as they would not then or even later have likely themselves chosen Peter to be the first among them. The writers of the Gospels never let this “rock” off easily, quick to recount the stories of his human weaknesses and foibles. In fact, not so much later than Jesus choosing Peter we find Jesus chastising him as Satan, when Peter contradicted what he had said about going to Jerusalem to face the cross an execution. Peter had assured Jesus he would never let that happen.
After the Resurrection, recalling the three times that Peter had denied Jesus, he was asked, “do you love me, do you love me, do you love me more than these? And with Peter’s assurance of his deep love, Jesus told him to feed his lambs and his sheep.
Peter did go on to accomplish great witness to the Lord. He died a martyr’s death. The Church has recognized every pope from earliest days to now as the Successor to Peter.
Last year as Pope Francis’ health was clearly failing for all the world to see, prognosticators, journalists, social media, and regular Church-watchers began the speculation as to who would be chosen to be the next pope, examining prominent cardinals.
“Will he continue the style and ministry of Francis?” “Will he model himself on Benedict XVI?” “Will he have the charisma of John Paul II?”
A wise cardinal responded to these questions: “Remember that the Conclave is not gathered to name the successor of Francis, or Benedict, or John Paul. We must choose the Successor of Peter!”
May God bless you all,
Most Reverend William F. Medley
Diocese of Owensboro
Originally printed in the February 2026 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
