Pope Leo I
"Our Lord Jesus Christ . . . established the worship belonging to the divine [Christian] religion. . . . But the Lord desired that the sacrament of this gift should pertain to all the apostles in such a way that it might be found principally in the most blessed Peter, the highest of all the apostles. And he wanted his gifts to flow into the entire body from Peter himself, as if from the head, in such a way that anyone who had dared to separate himself from the solidarity of Peter would realize that he was himself no longer a sharer in the divine mystery" (ibid., 10:2–3).

Pope Celestine I
"We enjoin upon you [my legates to the Council of Ephesus] the necessary task of guarding the authority of the Apostolic See. And if the instructions handed to you have to mention this and if you have to be present in the assembly, if it comes to controversy, it is not yours to join the fight but to judge of the opinions [on my behalf]" (Letters 17 [A.D. 431]).

Did you know?: There are 50 New Testament proofs for Peter’s Primacy. Whenever the apostles are listed Peter’s name always comes first. Peter is mentioned 195 times, John, the second most mentioned, is only mentioned 29 times. Peter is spoken of 60% of the time, with the other 11 apostles making up the other 40% together.

Did you know?: Church vestments ere introduced by Pope Clement 1 (around 80 - 95AD). The oldest relic of the Popes is the Episcopal chair and Mitre of Pope Silvester 1 (314 - 335 AD) which can be seen in the church of Sa Marino ai Monti.

Did you know?: Canon Law is the oldest continually functioning legal system anywhere in the western world, and the apostolic succession of the Popes is the longest standing succession of any office of power, in any group or organisation in the world.