Sacred Council, judge it necessary to propose for the belief and acceptance of all the faithful, according to the ancient and the constant faith of the universal Church, the doctrine concerning the institution, per- petuity, and nature of the sacred Apostolic primacy, in which consists the force and solidity of the entire Church, and to proscribe and condemn the contrary erro> hurtful to the Lord's flock. [Vatican Council, Session 4, Constitution 1, Concerning the Church of Christ.] INSTITUTION OF THE APOSTOLIC PRIMACY IN BLESSED PETER We therefore teach and declare that, according to the testimony of the Gospel, primacy of jurisdiction over the universal Church of God was immediately and directly promised and conferred upon the blessed Peter THE PRIMACY OF ST. PETER 67 the Apostle by Christ the Lord. For to Simon alone, to whom he had already said : Thou shalt be called Cephas, after he had confessed, saying : Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God, the Lord addressed those solemn words : Blessed art thou, Simon Bar- Jona, because flesh and blood have not revealed it to thee, but my Father, who is in heaven. And I say to thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church ; and the gates of hell shall not pre- vail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind