By Courtney Mares
Vatican City, Feb 22, 2025 / 11:00 am
Every year on Feb. 22, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, a tradition that dates back more than 1,600 years.
The feast honors not just a physical chair but what it represents: the authority of St. Peter, the first pope, and the unbroken line of his successors.
References to the “Chair of Peter” date back to the early centuries of Christianity. St. Jerome, a biblical scholar of the fourth century, wrote in a letter: “I follow no leader save Christ, so I enter into communion with … the Chair of Peter, for this I know is the rock upon which the Church is built.”
The feast itself has been celebrated on Feb. 22 since at least A.D. 336, according to Monsignor Tiziano Ghirelli, a canon of St. Peter’s Basilica. By the fifth century, its importance had grown, with the imperial family participating in celebrations at the old St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome in 450 and 467.
The word “cathedra” refers to the seat of the bishop, which is why the mother church of a diocese is known as a cathedral. The bishop of Rome, as Peter’s successor, holds a unique role in guiding the Church.
The Significance of the Chair of Peter: Exploring a Symbol of Authority
Exploring the rich history and symbolism behind the Chair of Peter, Pope Benedict XVI delved into its significance in a 2006 catechesis. According to the Pope, the Chair symbolizes the bishop’s authority and magisterium, representing the evangelical teachings that are passed down to the Christian community.
The Latin phrase “ex cathedra,” meaning “from the chair,” is used to denote the Pope’s most authoritative teachings, signifying a strong spiritual connection to the Chair of Peter. Pope Benedict emphasized the Chair as a symbol of God’s love, guiding the Church towards salvation.
Discovering the Chair of St. Peter in St. Peter’s Basilica
Besides its symbolic importance, a physical relic known as the Chair of St. Peter resides in St. Peter’s Basilica. Dating back to the ninth century, this wooden chair was publicly displayed last fall during restoration efforts at the basilica.
The Chair had not been publicly exhibited since 1867, when Pope Pius IX allowed its viewing for a limited time to commemorate the martyrdom of Peter and Paul. Encased within Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s bronze sculpture since 1666, the Chair features ivory panels depicting scenes from Greek mythology, possibly gifted by Holy Roman Emperor Charles the Bald to Pope John VIII in 875.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the Chair of St. Peter served as a ceremonial throne for the popes. Today, it stands as a testament to the enduring authority and spiritual legacy of the papacy.
