St Pius Parish issued the following announcement on Aug. 23

The general and personal identity of Jesus is seen in today’s Gospel when Jesus asked his disciples. Who do people say that the Son of Man is? They replied what was thought by public. But who do you say that I am? Peter replied in the name of all: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 13:16). In giving this answer, Peter was enlightened from on high,  according to the words spoken by Christ himself: “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, because neither flesh nor blood have revealed it to you, but my Father who is in heaven” ( Mt 13:17). Today as then, it is always the Pope, who is enlightened on the truths of faith and instructs us. The doctrine of the “Primacy of the Apostle Peter” is based on today’s Gospel. Peter was chosen by Jesus as the visible head of the Church, and this primacy is transmitted to all his successors, who are the Popes, up to the current Pope Francis. Jesus uses these words clearly to express the truth, “You are Peter, and, on this rock, I will build my Church”. Immediately afterwards he says, “and the powers of the netherworld shall not prevail against it”. Only where there is this firm foundation, this solid rock of Peter, the forces of evil will not be able to triumph. Furthermore, Jesus says to Peter: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven”.

Owning the keys to a house, especially once, meant having authority over that house. Jesus gives Peter the keys of the Kingdom of heaven; this means that giving to him power and authority. Finally, Jesus says: “whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven”. These words, in the language of the rabbis, meant forbidding or permitting, declaring lawful or unlawful, and therefore refer to the Pope’s task of teaching morals, that is, of instructing Christians on how to behave and what to avoid. Some might argue that these prerogatives belonged only to Peter and not to his successors. This objection is resolved very easily: if the Church, according to the words of Jesus: “I am with you always, to the ends of the world” (Mt 28:20), it is clear that the powers of the hell will never prevail, and until the end of time the Church headed by the Pope will be defended against all the attacks from the evil one, and Peter’s prerogatives will be extended to all his successors. The Church is that house founded on the rock of which the Gospel speaks. Even if the storm of persecution rages if this house is founded on the solid rock of Peter it will never be moved or touched. Today’s Gospel is an invitation to rethink the irreplaceable and providential function of the Ecclesiastical Magisterium, which faithfully transmits the teachings of Jesus Christ. By honoring the Magisterium of the Church, we honor Christ the Master. Everything we know about Jesus and the other mysteries of faith; we know only through the teaching of the Church. One could not even appeal to the supreme authority of Sacred Scripture, since, after all, we know what are the inspired books that make up the Bible only by the Church and her constant teaching. If we lack this “key to the reading” we will not be able to understand the meaning desired by God. From all this derives the duty to remain united with the Pope, the successor of Peter, in faith, in love, in obedience, to build together the Kingdom of God on earth

Original source can be found here.