Primacy of Saint Peter and of the Roman Pontiff

PRIMATO DI SAN PIETRO E DEL ROMANO PONTEFICE. — The primacy that the Catholic Church recognizes in St Pietro within the college of the Apostles, and in every Roman Pontiff as the successor of Pietro among all bishops, is not merely a special title of honor, nor merely a “presidential” primacy—the president receives his powers from the society over which he presides—but is a primacy of true authority of governance, of “jurisdiction,” which entails proper, supreme, and independent powers,