We have grown accustomed to make a clear distinction between Peter the rock and Peter the denier of Christ- the denier of Christ: that is the Peter as he was before Easter; the rock; that is the Peter as he was after the Pentecost, the Peter of whom we have constructed a singularly idealistic image. But, in reality, he was a both times both of these...Has it not been thus throughout the history of the Church that the Pope, the successor of Peter has been at once Petra and Skandalon - both the rock of God and a stumbling-block? In fact the faithful will always have to reckon with this paradox of the divine dispensation that shames their pride again and again.(Pope Benedict XVI)
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