The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) recently observed the feast of the Chair of Saint Peter and offers a prayer for Pope Francis.

According to Franciscan Media, the feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, is celebrated on Feb. 22.

"On this Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, we pray in a special way for our shepherd, Pope Francis: "O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, look favorably on your servant Francis, whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd; Grant, we pray, that by word and example he may be of service to those over whom he presides so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care, he may come to everlasting life. Amen," USCCB wrote in a Feb. 22 Facebook post.

The feast of the Chair of Saint Peter is an opportunity to honor not only Saint Peter, but also the role of the Pope, who has led the Church for 2,000 years. According to Simply Catholic, "in Rome’s St. Peter’s Basilica, there is a chair, enshrined in the sumptuous Altar of the Chair of St. Peter by the great architect Bernini, but it is a symbol representing the 2,000-year-old papacy and unity the Pope continues to bring to Catholics around the world. Without such unity, the Church would splinter into numerous sects and divisions."

Saint Peter is considered the first Pope of the Catholic Church. Peter was a close friend to Jesus and one of his 12 apostles. After Jesus's death and resurrection, Peter traveled to preach and share Jesus's teachings, gaining a following. 

He was eventually crucified during the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero, but Peter asked to be crucified upside down, because he didn't consider himself worthy to die in the same manner as Jesus had. Every Pope is considered a successor of Saint Peter.