If you have Catholic friends on Facebook, you may have seen this image posted on Thursday after Pope Benedict XVI retired and the Office of St. Peter, the Apostle became Vacant (Sede Vacate). The most unique part of this emblem is the Umbrella which symbolizes the temporary vacancy. The Keys are part of all Papal emblems.
For now though, I'd like to talk about the Christ's beautiful gift of the "Keys" and what these represent for our faith. When something is first mentioned in the Bible, the meaning of it remains the same throughout the rest of the Bible. The "Keys" are a beautiful demonstration of this:
"In that day I will call my servant Eli′akim the son of Hilki′ah, and I will clothe him with your robe and will commit your authority to his hand; I will place on his shoulder the KEY to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I will drive him like a peg into a firm place" - Isaiah 22:21-23
"And I tell you, you are Peter[Kepha], and on this rock[Kepha] I will build my church, and the powers of death 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.” - Matthew 16:18-19
"Who has the KEY of David, who opens and no one shall shut, who shuts and no one opens." - Revelation 3:7
