The foundation: Saint Peter, the first popeAccording to Catholic tradition, the history of the popes begins with Saint Peter, one of Christ's twelve apostles. Jesus entrusted him with the mission of "feeding his sheep" (John 21:15-17) and declared: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church" (Matthew 16:18). Peter thus became the first bishop of Rome and the visible head of the Church. He died a martyr around 64 AD in Rome, crucified upside down on Vatican Hill. His tomb lies beneath St Peter's Basilica. Read more...

Saint Pius I was one of the first successors of Saint Peter in the See of Rome. He lived in the 2nd century, at a time when the Church was still in its infancy, without legal recognition, often persecuted, and faced with numerous heresies. According to traditional sources, his pontificate lasted from around 140 to 155, during the reigns of the emperors Antoninus the Pious and perhaps Marcus Aurelius. It was a pivotal period in which Christianity was gradually becoming structured, while at the same time fighting for its survival and identity. Read more...

Saint Felicity is one of the great martyrs of the early Church, venerated for her unshakeable courage and unalterable faith in the face of persecution. A second-century Roman Christian, she lived in Rome at a time when the Christian faith was still illegal and violently repressed by the imperial authorities.  Read more...

St Peter and St Paul are two major figures in Christianity, considered to be the pillars of the nascent Church. Their lives, mission and martyrdom have profoundly marked Christian history and continue to inspire believers down the centuries. Read more...

Every year, on 29 June, the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, two of the greatest figures of Christianity. This major liturgical feast unites two apostles with very different backgrounds, but whom God chose to found his Church and spread the Gospel at the very heart of the Roman Empire. Their witness of faith, even to the point of martyrdom, is a source of inspiration for Christians the world over. Read more...