340 Outlines of European History Origin of papal power Prestige of the Roman Christian community Belief that Peter was the first bishop of Rome Section 55. Origin of the Power of the Popes We must now turn to a consideration of the origin and growth of the supremacy of the popes, who, by raising them- selves to the head of the ^^'estem Church, became in many respects more powerful than any of the kings and princes with whom they frequently found themselves in bitter conflict. While we cannot discover in the Theodosian Code any recog- nition of the supreme headship of the bishop of Rome, there is little doubt that he and his flock had almost from the very first enjoyed a leading place among the Christian communities. The Roman church was the only one in the West which could claim the distinction of having been founded by the immediate followers of Christ — the " two most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul." The New Testament speaks repeatedly of Paul's presence in Rome. As for Peter, there had been from early times a tradi- tion, accepted throughout the Christian Church, that he was the first bishop of Rome. This belief appears to have been gener- ally accepted at least as early as the middle of the second century. There is, certainly, no conflicting tradition, no rival claimant. The belief itself, whether or not it corresponds with actual events, is a fact of the greatest historical importance. Peter enjoyed a preeminence among the other apostles and was singled out by Christ upon several occasions. In a passage of the New Testa- ment which has affected histor}' more profoundly than the edicts of the most powerful monarch, Christ says : " And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church ; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven : and what- soever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound In heaven ; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." ^ 1 Matt, xvi, 18-19. Two other passages in the New Testament were held to substantiate the divinely ordained headship of Peter and his successors : Luke xxii, 32, where Christ says to Peter, " Strengthen thy brethren," and John xxi, 15-17, where Jesus said to him, " Feed my sheep.'" See Readings, chap. iv. The keys always appear in the papal arms (see headpiece of this chapter, p. 334).
