Yes, the other Apostles where what Peter was (i.e. they were all Apostles), but to take this and now come to the conclusion that St. Peter was merely first among equals, Catholics cannot agree with. We believe that Jesus Christ bestowed more upon St. Peter, including Petrine privelages and a unique office according to Scripture and Tradition, including the Fathers and Ecumenical Councils.
Here is just a few examples that specifically include St. John 21:17, all from Easterners:
St. John Chrysostom:
“’He says unto him, Feed My sheep.’
And why, having passed by the others, does He speak with Peter on these matters? He was the chosen one of the Apostles, the mouth of the disciples, the leader of the band; on this account also Paul went up upon a time to enquire of him rather than the others. And at the same time to show him that he must now be of good cheer, since the denial was done away, Jesus puts into his hands the chief authority among the brethren; and He brings not forward the denial, nor reproaches him with what had taken place, but says, ‘If you love Me, preside over your brethren, and the warm love which you ever manifested, and in which you rejoiced, show thou now; and the life which you said you would lay down for Me, now give for My sheep.’” (Homily 88)
Source:
newadvent.org/fathers/240188.htm
Bishop Asterius of Amasea:
“’In order that He may show His power, God has endowed none of His disciples with gifts like Peter. But having raised him with heavenly gifts, He has set him above all. And, as first disciple and greater among the brethren, he has shown, by the test of deeds, the power of the Spirit… The Savior confided to this man, as some special trust, the whole universal Church, after having asked him three times, ‘Lovest thou Me?’ And he received the world in charge, as one flock and shepherd, having heard, ‘Feed My lambs’; and the Lord gave, well nigh in His own stead, that most faithful disciple to the proselytes as a father, and shepherd and instructor.’”
Source:
credo.stormloader.com/Ecumenic/eocritic.htm
Theodore Abu Qurrah (past the age many if not all would consider belonging to the Early Church Fathers, but a pre-East-West schism author nonetheless):
“’You should understand that the head of the Apostles was St. Peter, to whom Christ said, ‘You are the rock; and on this rock I shall build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.’ After his resurrection, he also said to him three times, while on the shore of the sea of Tiberius, ‘Simon, do you love me? Feed my lambs, rams and ewes.’ In another passage, he said to him, ‘Simon, Satan will ask to sift you like wheat, and I prayed that you not lose your faith; but you, at that time, have compassion on your brethren and strengthen them.’ Do you not see that St. Peter is the foundation of the church, selected to shepherd it, that those who believe in his faith will never lose their faith, and that he was ordered to have compassion on his brethren and to strengthen them? As for Christ’s words, ‘I have prayed for you, that you not lose your faith; but you, have compassion on your brethren, at that time, and strengthen them’, we do not think that he meant St. Peter himself. Rather, he meant nothing more than the holders of the seat of St. Peter, that is, Rome. Just as when he said to the apostles, ‘I am with you always, until the end of the age’, he did not mean just the apostles themselves, but also those who would be in charge of their seats and their flocks; in the same way, when he spoke his last words to St. Peter, ‘Have compassion, at that time, and strengthen your brethren; and your faith will not be lost’, he meant by this nothing other than the holders of his seat.’”
Source:
credo.stormloader.com/Ecumenic/theodore.htm
