saint peter

Saint Peter, originally named Simon or Simeon, was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and is recognized as the leader of the early Christian Church. Christian tradition holds that Jesus gave him the name Cephas (meaning "Rock") and established him as the first pope, symbolically giving him the "keys of the kingdom of heaven." He was a fisherman by trade before becoming a disciple and played a central role in spreading Christianity after Jesus' death. Peter is believed to have been crucified upside down in Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero around 64 CE, and he is buried near the Vatican on Vatican Hill. He is the patron saint of fishermen, shipbuilders, and locksmiths, among others. The famous St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City is built over his burial site, and his legacy as the first pope and a foundational figure of the Church remains significant in Christianity.