Pope at Angelus: Peter shows how God works in our weakness

By Devin Watkins

As the Church celebrated the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Pope Francis prayed the Angelus with pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

Ahead of the traditional noon-day Marian prayer, he reflected on the example of the Apostle Peter, whom Jesus told: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.”

The Pope focused on three meanings of the Greek word for “rock”, which can signify rock, stone, or pebble.

Courageous as a rock

First, he noted, Peter is a rock, shown in moments when he is “strong, steady, genuine, and generous.”

“He leaves everything to follow Jesus,” said the Pope. “He recognizes Christ, the Son of the living God; he dives into the sea to go quickly toward the Risen One. Then, he boldly and courageously proclaims Jesus in the Temple, before and after being arrested and flogged. Tradition tells us also about his steadfastness when facing martyrdom.”

Reliable as a stone

Secondly, Peter’s name can also be understood as “stone”, a man who offers support to others.

Pope Francis said Peter sustains his brothers and sisters in the work of building up the Church.

The Gospels depict him as responding generously to Jesus’ call, confirming others’ desire to follow Christ, and encouraging the community’s proclamation of the Gospel.

“He is ‘stone’,” said the Pope, “a reliable point of reference for the entire community.”

Weak as a pebble

At the same time, added the Holy Father, Peter’s littleness emerges, revealing him also to be a “pebble”.

“At times he does not understand what Jesus is doing,” he said. “When confronted with Jesus’s arrest, Peter allows fear to overtake him and denies Jesus, then repents and weeps bitterly, but he does not find the courage to stand under the cross.”

Peter, added the Pope, also seeks to flee Rome when initially faced with his own martyrdom, according to the Quo vadis tradition.

Real person with strong and weak points

Peter encompasses each of these three aspects, with which each Christian can identify.

“In Peter,” said Pope Francis, “we find 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 man like us, who says ‘yes’ generously to Jesus in his imperfection.”

In the Apostle, God reveals that it is He who makes “Peter strong with His grace, unites us with His love, and forgives us with His mercy.”

Saints Peter and Paul, noted the Pope, were real people, with their own faults, strengths, and weaknesses.

Strength, generosity, humility

In conclusion, Pope Francis urged Christians to ask ourselves in what ways we identify with St. Peter, and prayed that the Blessed Virgin Mary might help us to imitate his strength, generosity, and humility.

“Are we aware of our littleness?” asked the Pope, in conclusion. “And above all, in our weakness, do we entrust ourselves to the Lord who accomplishes great things through those who are humble and sincere?”