33rd Week of Ordinary Time C – Tuesday –Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, Dedication

The dedication of these basilicas is one of the oldest feasts in the Roman liturgical calendar, dating all the way back to the fourth century. It commemorates the consecration of the two great patriarchal basilicas in Rome that honour the chief apostles—Peter and Paul—who together laid the foundations for the early Church through their preaching, witness, and martyrdom.

Saint Peter’s Basilica, in Vatican City—just a stone’s throw away from my window here in Rome (yes, I am blessed!)—stands over the tomb of the Apostle Peter, the fisherman from Galilee, the first Bishop of Rome, the first Pope. The original basilica was built by Emperor Constantine the Great around the year 324, directly over Peter’s burial site on Vatican Hill. The current Renaissance basilica was begun under Pope Julius II in 1506 and completed 120 years later, in 1626. It remains one of the most recognizable churches in the world, symbolizing the unity and authority of the Church founded on the rock of Peter and his faith.

Saint Paul Outside the Walls (San Paolo fuori le Mura) was also built by Constantine in the early fourth century and marks the burial place of Saint Paul the Apostle—the great missionary to the Gentiles—who was beheaded in Rome around 67 A.D. The basilica was nearly destroyed by fire in 1823 but was rebuilt to its original grandeur and reconsecrated in 1854 by Pope Pius IX.

My brothers and sisters, the dedication of both basilicas is celebrated jointly to highlight the complementary missions of these two apostles: Peter, the leader of the Twelve and guardian of faith’s unity, and Paul, the fearless preacher of Christ’s universality. Together they represent the two pillars of the Church—faith and mission, authority and evangelization, Jerusalem and the nations.

In the first reading, we hear a passage from the Acts of the Apostles, which fittingly concludes Luke’s account of the early Church with Paul’s arrival in Rome, the heart of the Empire. Despite his imprisonment, Paul continues to proclaim the Kingdom of God “with complete assurance and without hindrance.” This reading connects directly to the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, where the apostle’s earthly journey ended but where his missionary zeal continues to inspire. His reaching Rome represents the triumph of the Gospel over worldly power. The faith planted in the capital of the pagan empire would eventually transform it into the centre of Christianity.

Paul’s relics—his body—are kept in that basilica dedicated to him, though he was martyred a few kilometres away at a place called Tre Fontane (“Three Fountains”). Tradition holds that when he was beheaded, his head bounced on the ground three times, and with each bounce a fountain of water sprang forth. To this day, you can visit that site, carefully maintained by the Trappists. His skull, however, rests in the Lateran Basilica—together with the skull of Saint Peter—above the high altar of the cathedral of Rome, the Mother of all Churches, the seat of the Pope, Bishop of Rome.

In the Psalm, we hear: “The Lord has revealed to the nations His saving power.” Indeed, through Peter and Paul, the nations have heard the Good News of Jesus Christ, and lives have been transformed. History itself has been altered.

In the Gospel, we encounter the scene in which Peter walks on the water toward Jesus. This captures the essence of Peter’s faith and frailty at once. At Jesus’ command, Peter steps out in trust; but as soon as he doubts, he begins to sink. Jesus immediately reaches out to him, saying, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

This moment beautifully symbolizes Peter’s role in the Church. His faith in Christ allows him to do the impossible, yet his human weakness reminds us that the Church’s strength comes not from its leaders or its faithful, but from Christ who sustains them all. The Basilica of Saint Peter, therefore, stands as a monument of mercy and faith—not to Peter’s perfection, but to his perseverance in grace.

My dear brothers and sisters, when Jesus and Peter return to the boat, the wind dies down and the disciples proclaim, “Truly, you are the Son of God.” We too must traverse the many paths our lives will lead us on, and yet, through it all and through every storm, may we also proclaim with Peter and Paul: “Truly, you are the Son of God—my everything, my all, the reason I exist, and breathe, and have my being. For you I will lay down my life a thousand times over.”

Our hope is that one day we too, like Peter and Paul, will rejoice with the Lord forever in Paradise.
And God bless you.