Saint Peter the Apostle, Prince of the Apostles and First Pope

Saint Peter (originally Simon, son of Jonah) was a Galilean fisherman called by Jesus to become a "fisher of men." Upon Simon's profession of faith at Caesarea Philippi ("Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God"), Jesus bestowed upon him the name Peter (Rock) and declared: "Upon this rock I will build my Church." Appointed by Christ as the Chief of the Apostles and first Vicar of Christ ("Feed my lambs, feed my sheep"), Peter led the early Church in Jerusalem following Pentecost, presiding over the Council of Jerusalem and expanding the Gospel mission to Antioch and Rome. During the Neronian persecution around A.D. 64, Peter suffered martyrdom in Rome by crucifixion, requesting to be crucified upside-down as unworthy to die in the same manner as his Master.