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God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is the Rock. Peter and Paul were both Jews - they would not have missed that point.

Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. [He is] the Rock, his work [is] perfect: for all his ways [are] judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right [is] he. – Deu 32:1-4

For who [is] God, save the LORD? and who [is] a rock, save our God? – 2 Sam 22:32

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: - Matt 7:4

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. – 1 Cor 10:1-4

Unto you therefore which believe [he is] precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. – 1 Peter 2:7-8

Keeping that in mind, the following passage refers to God’s revelation (the work of the Holy Spirit is to reveal) - first given to Peter, as the Rock upon which Christ will build His church (emphasis mine):

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. – Matt 16:16-18

[ And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter(petros/ a rock), and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. – Matt 16:16-18]

Jesus giving Simon a "nickname"?... while speaking a metaphor?.. Maybe, Maybe not.. I think not.. However the other Apostles calling him "Peter" henceforth(after that) is possible.. people do that with nicknames.. The metaphorical church is built with rocks.. Rock on rock with Jesus the cornerstone.. Which rock is more important than any other?.. Is the church the Bride of Christ?.. If so; where does Peter relate to the bride, within the bride?.. Which metaphor about the same subject is more important/accurate?..

I think both metaphors are equal and Peter is and was merely a rock.. Linking both metaphors must be done.. Unless God is a moron or thinks we are.. Jesus, as always, was making a point.. and the point was NOT about Peter..

I suppose it is a waste to make the point the RCC didn't assume form until about 300 a.d... to many.. according to Millers Church History.. Constantine making every Roman a christian overnight would indeed require making priests and a hierarchy to control it all.. out of mostly a pagan people.. The pagans were used to priests performing strange rites.. the emperors were already called "Pontifex Maximus"...

God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is the Rock

The first two "rocks", by the way, are problematic. Where do you see "rock" in the Hebrew or in the Septuagint in Dut 32 or 2 Sam 22?

It is not incorrect, however, to see rock as a type of Christ in light of the book of Daniel and 1 Cor 10. Therefore, when Christ names Simon Peter, he is grafting Peter onto Himself, and it is because of the revelation of the Father, correct.

Again, the renaming eposide should be seen together with the giving of the keys, the charge to feed the sheep and the promise of Christ's prayer so that Peter coverts his brethren.