Peter, called “blessed” by Jesus, declared to be a solid rock, capable of confirming the disciples’ faith, will not be exempt from errors, falls, infidelity towards his Lord. Immediately after his profession of faith he will show his all too worldly way of thinking as regards Jesus’ passion, to the point that Jesus will call him “Satan”, and at the end of Jesus’ earthly life Peter three separate times will declare that he never knew him: fear and the desire to save himself will lead him to declare forcefully that he “did not know” that Jesus knowledge about whom he had received directly from God!
Jesus, who had assured him of his prayers so that his faith would not fail, after the resurrection will reconfirm him in his post, asking him three times to attest his love: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” (Jn 21, 15.16.17). Touched to the quick by this question from Jesus, Peter will become Jesus” apostle, the pastor of his sheep, first in Jerusalem, then in the Jewish communities of Palestine, then in Antioch, and finally in Rome, where in his turn he will lay down his life after the example of his Lord and Teacher. In Rome Peter will also again meet Paul: we do not know whether in the daily life of Christian witness, but certainly in the great sign of martyrdom.