I know."A rock" (petros) is not the same as "THE Rock" (petra).
Theologians know this too.
There is doubt.
I'm not saying that Peter is the ROCK.
Jesus is the Rock.
But when Jesus said "and on THIS ROCK"...
was He referring to Himself...?
Or pointing to Peter and meaning HIM?
Catholics say it's Peter
Protestants say it's Jesus because we love to protest.
I'm just not sure.
In any case, Peter is not the first Pope.
Simple history.
But he certainly was very respected at that time.