Keys of Heaven

The Keys of Heaven, also called Saint Peter's keys, refers to the metaphorical keys of the office of Saint Peter, the keys of Heaven, or the keys of the kingdom of Heaven. It is explicitly referenced in the Bible in Matthew 16:19.

In Catholicism

According to Catholic teaching,^[1] Jesus promised the keys to heaven to Saint Peter, empowering him to take binding actions.^[2] In the Gospel of Matthew 16:19,^[3] Jesus says to Peter, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on Earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in heaven." Saint Peter is often depicted in Catholic and Eastern Orthodox paintings and other artwork as holding a key or a set of keys.

The keys of heaven or keys of Saint Peter are seen as a symbol of papal authority and are seen on papal coats of arms (those of individual popes) and those of the Holy See and Vatican City State: "Behold he [Peter] received the keys of the kingdom of heaven, the power of binding and loosing is committed to him, the care of the whole Church and its government is given to him".^[4]

Biblical sources

Bible verses associated with Peter^[5][6] and his position of authority include:

• Isaiah 22:20–23;
• Matthew 10:2;
• Matthew 16:18–19;
• Luke 22:32;
• John 21:17;
• Acts 2:14;
• Acts 10:46; and
• Galatians 1:18.

Bible verses associated with the transfer of powers from pope to pope include:

• Acts 1:20; 6:6; 13:3; 8:18; 9:17;
• 1 Timothy 4:14; 5:22;
• 2 Timothy 1:6

See also

• Coat of arms of the Holy See
• Keys of the kingdom
• Papal regalia and insignia
• Power of the Keys
• Primacy of Peter

References

Further reading

• Joyce, George Hayward (1910). "Power of the Keys" . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
• Knecht, Friedrich Justus (1910). "Jesus promises Peter the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven." . A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture. B. Herder.
• Catholic Answers Magazine: Peter's Authority
• Catechism of the Catholic Church (Paragraphs 880–883)

External links

History
(Timeline
Ecclesiastical
Legal)

Early Church	Jesus Ministry Crucifixion Resurrection Great Commission Apostles Succession Petrine primacy Church fathers Apostolic fathers History of the papacy Primacy
Great Church	Ante-Nicene period Constantine First seven ecumenical councils Nicaea I Chalcedon Late antiquity Biblical canon Monasticism
Middle Ages	Islamic conquests Pope Gregory I Papal States Schism (1054) Investiture Controversy Crusades Schism (1378) Inquisition Universities Scholasticism Age of Discovery
Modern era	Protestantism Protestant Reformation Catholic Reformation Trent Thirty Years' War Enlightenment French Revolution Nazism Vatican II Communism Sexual abuse scandal Islam COVID-19 pandemic

Theology
(Bible
Tradition
Catechism)

General	God Trinity Kingdom Body and soul Divine grace Dogma Nicene Creed Original sin Saints Salvation Sermon on the Mount Ten Commandments Vulgate Official Bible Sixtine Vulgate Sixto-Clementine Vulgate Nova Vulgata Worship
Ecclesiology	Communitas perfecta Councils Ecumenism Four marks One true church Catholic Infallibility Mystici Corporis Christi People of God Three states Subsistit in In canon law
Sacraments	Baptism Confirmation Eucharist Penance Anointing of the Sick Last rites Holy orders Matrimony
Mariology	Assumption History Immaculate Conception Mariology of the popes Mariology of the saints Mother of God Perpetual virginity Veneration See also: Josephology

PhilosophySaintsOrganisation
(Hierarchy
Canon law
Laity
Precedence
By country)

Holy See (List of popes)	Pope Francis Ecumenical councils College of Cardinals List Advisers Roman Curia Dicasteries Synod of Bishops Properties
Vatican City	Index Outline Apostolic Palace Lateran Treaty Roman Rota St. Peter's Basilica Swiss Guard Vatican Museums
Polity (Holy orders)	Diocese Episcopal conference Eparchy Bishop Patriarch Major Primate Metropolitan Archbishop Diocesan Coadjutor Auxiliary Titular Emeritus Parish Priest Deacon
Consecrated life	Religious: Superior Abbot, Abbess General Provincial Prior, Prioress Grand master Brother Friar Monk Sister Nun Hermit Novice Master Oblate Postulant
Particular churches sui iuris	Latin Church Eastern Catholic Churches Albanian Armenian Belarusian Bulgarian Chaldean Coptic Croatian and Serbian Eritrean Ethiopian Georgian Greek Hungarian Italo-Albanian Macedonian Maronite Melkite Romanian Russian Ruthenian Slovak Syriac Syro-Malabar Syro-Malankara Ukrainian
Catholic liturgy	Eastern Catholic liturgy Alexandrian Antiochian Armenian Byzantine East Syriac West Syriac Malankara Latin Ambrosian Braga Mozarabic Roman Paul VI Tridentine Anglican Zaire

CultureMediaReligious orders,
institutes, societiesAssociations
of the faithfulCharities