Question

How did Rome become important in the Catholic Church?

Answer 1

Rome was the capital of the Roman Empire who had brutally persecuted Christians, often by simply killing them as fodder for the wild animals brought in for amusement, imprisonment, or crucifixion as criminals.

But two of Jesus' Twelve Apostles, Peter and Paul, both went to Rome to preach anyway and, traditionally, are said to have founded the Church there after Jesus' death and resurrection.

Of course, Emperor Nero wouldn't have any of this. Peter was crucified. Peter was also considered "first" among the Apostles as well the first bishop of Rome - an important distinction for the papal authority of the Vatican.

So centuries later when Constantine ended the persecution of Christians, Rome's role became even more important. By making it the seat of the papacy, it symbolized the victory of faith over the pagans and continued the work that Saints Peter and Paul had begun.