Look at the 'keys to the kingdom of heaven' in the light of the fact that a person must be 'born again, or they will not see the kingdom of heaven.
What is the actual 'key' to being with God in heaven? Accepting Christ as the One who died for you sins. Peter is not that person obviously. The keys are the instructions given by Jesus...binding, loosing and so on and most of all faith that leads to salvation in Christ.
Everyone who is actually a Christian possesses the keys....everyone. Evangelism is a key to salvation. Hearing that message of the gospel, is the key to salvation.
Peter was a coward who denied Jesus THREE times. He also backed down from the true gospel and became a hypocrite when he joined up with the Judaizers. He was soundly rebuked by Paul for doing so.
And it is significant to note, that not long, after he identified Jesus as the Son of God, Jesus rebuked him.
21From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
22Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!”
23But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
So we see that while Peter was a part of the foundation of the covenant in Christ and a very important one, he was also very fallible and was only imbued with power to serve God when he was filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
There is alot of opposition to this simple truth, that Peter, while chosen and playing a key part in the beginnings of the church (body of Christ/true believers) he was still just a man. Fallible and actually cowardly and nothing without Jesus
This is the biblical account. The pope has no jurisdiction over the church of true believers in Christ, but if a person submits to him, they shall have him as their ruler unless they repent and turn to Christ.
Jesus actually called Peter a stumbling block. Jesus redeemed Peter, but without the Holy Spirit, Peter was nothing but a coward and a stumbling block.
We must all keep our eyes on Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith.
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.
2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12