Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom to St Peter to establish the papacy, fulfilling the ancient Old Testament role of the prime minister (al-habbayit) who manages the king's household when the king is away.The "power of the keys" designates authority to govern the house of God, which is the Church. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, confirmed this mandate after his Resurrection: "Feed my sheep." The power to "bind and loose" connotes the authority to absolve sins, to pronounce doctrinal judgments, and to make disciplinary decisions in the Church. Jesus entrusted this authority to the Church through the ministry of the apostles and in particular through the ministry of Peter, the only one to whom he specifically entrusted the keys of the kingdom. Binding and loosing also applies in a particular way to Christ’s apostles who are charged with teaching the gospel, administering church discipline and absolving sin in the name of the Church.  Let us remember those who are in spiritual authority in our prayers that like St Peter they may govern the house of God in truth, love, justice and mercy.