At first glance, the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter may seem like a curious celebration—after all, why would the Church dedicate an entire feast day to a chair? But this feast, celebrated annually on February 22, is not about a physical chair alone. It is a profound reminder of the spiritual authority entrusted to St. Peter and his successors, the popes, who continue to shepherd the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The word cathedra—Latin for “chair” or “throne”—is the root of the term cathedral, which refers to the church where a bishop’s seat is located. In ancient Rome, officials would sit on chairs as a sign of their authority when making official proclamations or judgments. The Church adopted this tradition, signifying that bishops, and most especially the Bishop of Rome (the pope), teach with divinely bestowed authority.
The physical Chair of Peter is a wooden relic believed to date back to the ninth century, now encased in a magnificent bronze structure designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. This great sculpture, found in the basilica’s apse, portrays the essential role of Peter and his successors in guiding the Church. The chair is adorned with three important scenes from Peter’s life:
- The Giving of the Keys – Representing Christ’s gift of authority to Peter.
- The Washing of the Feet – A reminder that leadership in the Church is a mission of service.
- Jesus’ Command to “Feed My Sheep” – Highlighting Peter’s responsibility as the spiritual shepherd of Christ’s flock.
More than a physical object, the Chair of Peter signifies the office of the papacy, which traces its origin to Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:
“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.”
This passage is foundational to the Catholic understanding of the pope’s role as the earthly head of the Church. The authority given to Peter did not end with his martyrdom in Rome but was passed down through an unbroken line of successors, making the See of Rome the center of unity for all Christians.
Pope Benedict XVI beautifully reflected on this reality, explaining that the Chair of Peter is not merely a historical relic but a sign of God’s enduring love for His Church. He wrote:
“Celebrating the ‘Chair’ of Peter, therefore, means attributing a strong spiritual significance to it and recognizing it as a privileged sign of the love of God, the eternal Good Shepherd, who wanted to gather his whole Church and lead her on the path of salvation.”
As we mark this feast, we are invited to pray for the pope, that he may continue to guide the Church with wisdom, humility, and fidelity to Christ. We also reaffirm our own commitment to remaining steadfast in the faith, trusting in the promise that the gates of hell shall never prevail against the Church built upon the rock of Peter.
