Cyprian
(Carthage, 200 - 258 AD), On the
Unity of the
Catholic
Church, Chapter 4
"Upon him (Peter), being
one, He (Christ) built His Church and
although after His
resurrection He bestows equal power upon
all the Apostles, and says:
"As the Father has sent me, I also
send you. Receive the Holy
Spirit: if you forgive the sins of
anyone, they will be
forgiven him; if you retain the sins of
anyone, they will be
retained" (Jn 20:21), that He might display
unity, He established by His
authority the origin of the same
unity as beginning from
one."