The Catholic Church in Southern Africa joined the universal Church in celebrating the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29, a feast traditionally known as Pope’s Day, honouring the witness of the two great Apostles and expressing communion with the Successor of Saint Peter.
The celebration took place at St John Vianney Major Seminary in Pretoria and brought together bishops, priests, seminarians, religious and lay faithful for a special Mass offered for Pope Leo XIV and his Petrine ministry. Present were the Apostolic Nuncio to Southern Africa, Archbishop Henryk Mieczysław Jagodziński, the Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature, Monsignor Giacomo Antonicelli, members of the diplomatic corps and civil authorities, including the Honourable Thembisile Simelane, the Minister of Human Settlements.
The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Archbishop Siegfried Mandla Jwara CMM, Metropolitan Archbishop of Durban. Concelebrating were Bishop Thulani Victor Mbuyisa CMM of Kokstad, Auxiliary Bishop Masilo John Selemela of Pretoria, Monsignor Giacomo Antonicelli and approximately thirty priests.
A celebration of unity with the Holy Father
Welcoming those gathered, Archbishop Jagodziński reminded the congregation that the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul is far more than a commemoration of two great saints. Rather, it is a celebration of the Church’s unity around the See of Peter and her missionary identity inspired by Saint Paul.
Quoting Saint Ignatius of Antioch, who described Rome as the Church “which presides in charity,” the nuncio reflected on the enduring mission entrusted to the Successor of Peter: to strengthen communion among the Churches and serve the unity of God’s people.
“Our thoughts and prayers turn in a particular way to the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, the 267th Successor of Saint Peter,” Archbishop Jagodziński said.
He noted that while Pope Leo XIV celebrated the Eucharist in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome and imposed the pallium upon newly appointed metropolitan archbishops, the faithful in Southern Africa gathered in spiritual communion with him.
The nuncio also expressed joy that Archbishop Sithembile Sipuka of Cape Town received the pallium during the celebrations in Rome, assuring him of the prayers of the Church in Southern Africa. He further acknowledged Cardinals Stephen Brislin and Wilfrid Napier, who were participating in the celebrations alongside the Holy Father.
Archbishop Jagodziński invited the faithful to pray for Pope Leo XIV, asking God to strengthen him with wisdom, courage and peace as he continues to serve as the visible sign of the Church’s unity.
“The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul reminds us that the Church is built upon the witness of the Apostles and remains united through the bond of communion with the Successor of Peter,” he said.
God’s grace transforms weakness
In his homily, Archbishop Jwara reflected on the extraordinary lives of Saints Peter and Paul, reminding the congregation that both men were deeply flawed before God’s grace transformed them into pillars of the Church.
“For the past few weeks, I have been reflecting on the lives of Saints Peter and Paul,” he said. “What stood out for me was the baggage they both carried.”
He described Peter as impulsive, fearful and prone to failure. Peter acted before thinking, drew his sword in the Garden of Gethsemane and denied Jesus three times out of fear. Yet despite these shortcomings, God’s mercy transformed him into the rock upon which Christ built His Church.
“Our human weaknesses are not the end of the world,” Archbishop Jwara said. “We should always pray that we do not drift away from the grace of God.”
Turning to Saint Paul, Archbishop Jwara recalled how the Apostle had persecuted Christians, approved violence against them and imprisoned believers before his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus.
Reflecting on a visit to Saint Paul’s tomb during an ad limina pilgrimage to Rome, he remarked that the magnificent basilica standing over the tomb of the former persecutor is itself a testimony to God’s mercy.
“All that we see is merely the mercy of God,” he said. “This man was once the enemy of Christians, yet today he is honoured as one of the greatest saints of the Church.”
The archbishop encouraged the faithful never to allow their past failures to define them, reminding them that God’s grace continues to transform those who remain faithful to Him.
The power of prayer
Reflecting on the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Archbishop Jwara spoke about Peter’s miraculous release from prison.
While Peter was chained and heavily guarded, the Christian community prayed without ceasing. God answered those prayers by sending an angel to free him.
“The power of prayer opened the gates,” Archbishop Jwara said. “It made the chains fall apart.”
Drawing a parallel with the Church today, he encouraged the faithful to continue praying for Pope Leo XIV, asking that God protect him from every challenge and strengthen him in his ministry.
“The Church is praying for the Holy Father. May the prayers of the Church protect the Pope and save him from the enemies of the Church,” he said.
Keeping the faith amid trials
The archbishop also reflected on Saint Paul’s moving words from his second letter to Timothy: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
He noted that although not every Christian is called to martyrdom, every disciple experiences both the joys and the hardships of following Christ.
“There are moments when we feel lonely, abandoned, misunderstood and rejected because of the decisions we make,” he said.
Yet suffering, he explained, is never meaningless. Quoting Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans, Archbishop Jwara reminded the faithful that suffering produces endurance, endurance builds character and character gives rise to hope.
“The Lord stood by me and gave me strength,” he quoted from Saint Paul, encouraging everyone to trust that God remains faithful even during life’s greatest trials.
Built upon the Rock
Concluding his homily, Archbishop Jwara reflected on Jesus’ question to His disciples: “Who do you say that I am?”
Peter’s profession of faith, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”, became the foundation upon which Christ entrusted him with the mission of leading His Church.
Receiving the keys of the Kingdom symbolised not privilege but responsibility, Archbishop Jwara explained.
Peter’s mission was to preach the Gospel, shepherd Christ’s flock and strengthen his fellow apostles. As the successor of Saint Peter, Pope Leo XIV continues that same apostolic mission today.
“Today we pray for the Holy Father,” Archbishop Jwara said, “that he may have enough grace to continue his mission.”
He also urged the Church in South Africa to remain steadfast in living the Gospel, especially during difficult times marked by fear, division and social tension.
Recalling criticism directed at the Church after distributing food parcels to refugees, Archbishop Jwara insisted that Christians must never abandon Christ’s command to show compassion.
“Whatever you try to do,” he said, “we must stand for Christ all the time. We must show people the heart of Jesus.”
As the Church celebrated the witness of Saints Peter and Paul, the faithful were reminded that the same grace that transformed two imperfect men into great saints continues to strengthen the Church today.
