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The RCC takes Matt 16:18 out of its context, and makes a false doctrine out of it. That was NOT the question Jesus was asking, nor was it the context of Peter’s answer. Read the whole exchange.

Truth is not what we want it to be (by twisting Scripture): it is what it is.

Matthew:
13 When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
16 Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
17 Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
18 And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
19 I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
20 Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Messiah.

I guess you are right, that single passage doesn't clarify it, but if you do take the whole scripture in context it makes perfect sense.

He was talking to Peter, a single person. He did not include all the other apostles in that statement. To believe he did, is truly to distort the scriptures. Jesus Himself selected Peter as the head of His church here on earth, and that position has been held continuously for 2000 years in the Roman Catholic Church. Peter was the first pope and the apostles were the first bishops.

I can’t believe missed the obvious.

“This rock” is THE SPECIFIC reference to Jesus being the MESSIAH (the Christ). It wasnt about Peter— Peter was correct in answering who Jesus was: as opposed to others who were saying other things (Elijah,etc).

The fact that Jesus Christ would be the one who builds the church, himself being the “chief cornerstone”, was a mystery in the O.T., but now it is fulfilled in Him.

Read Ephesians 1-3 S L O W L Y.