St. Peter the Apostle (1 AD - 68 AD)

Feast Day: June 29
Canonization: Pre-Congregation
Patron of Legatus, the Papacy, the Universal Church, Fishermen

Peter, the Church’s first pope, was a native of Bethsaida in Galilee.

Originally known as Simon, he and his brother, Andrew, were fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. There they met Christ, who asked Simon to row out from the shore so He could teach the crowds.

Christ selected Simon as among His 12 apostles, and later named him Peter (“The Rock”) upon which He would build His Church. Peter, who once called himself a sinful man, abandoned and betrayed Christ after His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, even after he’d previously vowed to die for Him.

Unlike Judas, who hung himself in despair over betraying the Lord, Peter repented and drew back to the Heart of Jesus. Following the Ascension, Peter became the head of the apostles, addressing the crowds at Pentecost and performing many miracles in Christ’s name.

Peter led the Christians to Rome, until he was arrested and crucified during the persecution of Nero (64-68 AD). His tomb was discovered in 1942 under St. Peter’s Basilica. In November 2013, his relics were publicly displayed in Rome. He is patron of Legatus, its “first CEO.”