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It was the acknowledgment that Jesus is the messiah by Peter that is the "rock" upon which the Church was and is built. Peter is not the Rock upon which the Church was built. Note in the verse Christ also says that the gates of hell will not prevail against it? Jesus was talking about the fact that "Christ is the messiah being the rock". Peter suffered a martyr's death at the hands of Nero, so the gates of hell did prevail against Peter, but not the Rock i.e. "Jesus is the messiah" that rock upon which the Church is built.

Er, the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church.

Also, if Peter was NOT the Rock upon which Christ founded His Church...then why would he give Peter "the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven"?

Also, if Peter was NOT the Rock upon which Christ founded His Church...then why would he give Peter "the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven"?

Read the verse carefully it says "the key OF the Kingdom of heaven". Big difference between "to" and "of". "of" denotes authority to bind and loose. This authority was given to all apostles and flows to all Church leaders. The Kingdom of heaven is within a believing person. "to" has a different meaning entirely. It is often interpreted to mean by Catholics that Peter has control over who gets into heaven. This is ridiculous because there is only one criteria that clearly defines who will get into heaven in the Bible.

The Catholic Church was interested in promoting Peter to be the head because it was easier to consolidate their power in a single man.