Dear Matt:

Whoever suggested this nonsense to you needs to learn the English language. Jesus did NOT call Peter Satan. He said, "Get thee behind me Satan" not, "Peter you are Satan."

Peter was well intentioned with what he said to Jesus, but Jesus knew who was the real source of the sentiment. Peter in his love for his Master allowed Satan to plant the thought in his mind which was used by Satan to try to dissuade Jesus from his mission.

Thus, instead of rebuking Peter, Jesus rebuked Satan when he said this to Peter.

I could do the same thing to these people you are talking about. To suggest that Jesus was calling Peter Satan and thus he could not be the rock is an idea from Satan. So.... Get thee behind be Satan, I could say to those people.

Anytime any of us say something contrary to the will of God, we are, in effect, speaking from Satan and God may say to us, "Get thee behind me Satan."

Peter was an impulsive man. He denied Jesus three times. But, Peter repented.  He became the bold leader of the disciples and of the Church.

God often calls weak men to do his will. As St. Paul said, "In my weakness I am strong in Christ."

But Peter became strong after Pentecost and the rock by which the Church was built.

The proof that Peter was the new Pope of the New Covenant (Moses and his successors were the Old Covenant popes) is that Jesus quotes Isaiah 22:21-22 when appointing Peter the Pope. In Isaiah the passage is about the succession of the office of Prime Minister who is given the keys of the kingdom to lock or unlock. The Pope is a Prime Minister of the King. This Prime Minister in Isaiah is called the "father of the nation"; the Pope is the "father of the Church" (Pope merely means "father").

This CLEARLY and DEFINITIVELY proves from the Bible alone what Jesus was doing. In fact, this passage is what converted me from a Baptist Preacher to a Catholic.

I hope this helps.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary