Keys of Heaven

The keys of heaven, keys of St. Peter, keys of the kingdom of heaven (in Latin claves regni caelorum, in Greek αἱ κλεῖς τῆς βασιλείας τῶν οὐρανῶν), is a term used in Matthew 16:18-19 in the Bible, where Jesus Christ says: "I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." This statement is seen as a biblical basis for the power of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, the successor of Saint Peter, in the Church. Papal coats of arms are traditionally adorned with the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

Emblems and arms

Holy See & State of Vatican

The key of gold (yellow) pointing to the left («bend sinister», heraldically said “right”) represents the Holy See and the Pope, the key of silver (grey) pointing to the left («bend sinister», heraldically said “right”) represents the State of Vatican [1] archive copy at the Wayback Machine.

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  Vatican City State
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  Sede vacante
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  Holy See
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  Vatican City State

Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate

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  Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate Emblem

St. Peter and the Keys of Heaven

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