Pope St. Leo I (the Great)

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(Reigned 440-61).

Place anddate of birth unknown; died 10 November, 461. Leo's pontificate, next to that ofSt. Gregory I, is the most significant and important inChristian antiquity. At a time when theChurch was experiencing the greatest obstacles to her progress in consequence of the hastening disintegration of the Western Empire, while theOrient was profoundly agitated over dogmatic controversies, this greatpope, with far-seeing sagacity and powerful hand, guided the destiny of the Roman and Universal Church. According to the"Liber Pontificalis" (ed. Mommsen, I, 101 sqq., ed. Duchesne, I, 238 sqq.), Leo was a native ofTuscany and hisfather's name was Quintianus. Our earliest certain historical information about Leo reveals him adeacon of theRoman Church underPope Celestine I (422-32). Even during this period he was known outside ofRome, and had some relations with Gaul, since Cassianus in 430 or 431 wrote at Leo's suggestion his work "De Incarnatione Domini contra Nestorium" (Migne, P.L., L, 9 sqq.), prefacing it with a letter of dedication to Leo. About this timeCyril of Alexandria appealed toRome against the pretensions of Bishop Juvenal ofJerusalem. From an assertion of Leo's in a letter of later date (ep. cxvi, ed.Ballerini, I, 1212; II, 1528), it is not very clear whether Cyril wrote to him in the capacity of Romandeacon, or to Pope Celestine. During the pontificate ofSixtus III (422-40), Leo was sent to Gaul byEmperor Valentinian III to settle a dispute and bring about a reconciliation betweenAëtius, the chief military commander of the province, and the chief magistrate, Albinus. This commission is aproof of the great confidence placed in the clever and abledeacon by the Imperial Court.Sixtus III died on 19 August, 440, while Leo was inGaul, and the latter was chosen his successor. Returning toRome, Leo wasconsecrated on 29 September of the same year, and governed theRoman Church for the next twenty-one years.

Leo's chief aim was to sustain theunity of the Church. Not long after his elevation to the Chair of Peter, he saw himself compelled to combat energetically theheresies which seriously threatened church unity even in the West. Leo had ascertained through Bishop Septimus of Altinum, that in Aquileiapriests,deacons, andclerics, who had been adherents ofPelagius, were admitted to communion without an explicitabjuration of theirheresy. Thepope sharply censured this procedure, and directed that a provincial synod should be assembled inAquileia, at which suchpersons were to be required toabjurePelagianism publicly and to subscribe to an unequivocal confession of Faith (epp. i and ii). Thiszealouspastor wagedwar even more strenuously againstManichæism, inasmuch as its adherents, who had been driven fromAfrica by theVandals, had settled inRome, and had succeeded in establishing a secretManichæan community there. Thepope ordered thefaithful to point out theseheretics to thepriests, and in 443, together with the senators andpresbyters, conducted in person an investigation, in the course of which the leaders of the community were examined. In several sermons he emphatically warned theChristians ofRome to be on their guard against this reprehensibleheresy, and repeatedly charged them to give information about its followers, their dwellings, acquaintances, and rendezvous (Sermo ix, 4, xvi, 4; xxiv, 4; xxxiv, 4 sq.; xlii, 4 sq.; lxxvi, 6). A number ofManichæans inRome were converted and admitted to confession; others, who remained obdurate, were in obedience to imperial decrees banished fromRome by the civil magistrates. On 30 January, 444, thepope sent a letter to all thebishops ofItaly, to which he appended the documents containing his proceedings against theManichæans inRome, and warned them to be on their guard and to take action against the followers of thesect (ep. vii). On 19 June, 445,Emperor Valentinian III issued, doubtless at thepope's instigation, a stern edict in which he established seven punishments for theManichæans ("Epist. Leonis", ed.Ballerini, I, 626; ep. viii inter Leon. ep). Prosper of Aquitaine states in his "Chronicle" (ad an. 447; "Mon. Germ. hist. Auct. antiquissimi", IX, I, 341 sqq.) that, in consequence of Leo's energetic measures, theManichæans were also driven out of the provinces, and even Orientalbishops emulated thepope's example in regard to thissect. InSpain theheresy of Priscillianism still survived, and for some time had been attracting fresh adherents. Bishop Turibius ofAstorga became cognizant of this, and by extensive journeys collected minute information about the condition of the churches and the spread of Priscillianism. He compiled theerrors of theheresy, wrote a refutation of the same, and sent these documents to several Africanbishops. He also sent a copy to thepope, whereupon the latter sent a lengthy letter to Turibius (ep. xv) in refutation of theerrors of the Priscillianists. Leo at the same time ordered that a council ofbishops belonging to the neighbouring provinces should be convened to institute a rigid enquiry, with the object of determining whether any of thebishops had become tainted with the poison of thisheresy. Should any such be discovered, they were to beexcommunicated without hesitation. Thepope also addressed a similar letter to thebishops of the Spanish provinces, notifying them that a universal synod of all the chiefpastors was to be summoned; if this should be found to be impossible, thebishops of Galicia at least should be assembled. These twosynods were in fact held inSpain to deal with the points at issue (Hefele, "Konziliengesch." II, 2nd ed., pp. 306 sqq.).

The greatly disorganizedecclesiastical condition of certain countries, resulting from national migrations, demanded closer bonds between their episcopate andRome for the better promotion ofecclesiastical life. Leo, with this object in view, determined to make use of thepapal vicariate of thebishops of Arles for the province of Gaul for the creation of a centre for the Gallican episcopate in immediate union withRome. In the beginning his efforts were greatly hampered by his conflict withSt. Hilary, thenBishop of Arles. Even earlier, conflicts had arisen relative to the vicariate of thebishops of Arles and its privileges. Hilary made excessive use of his authority over other ecclesiastical provinces, and claimed that allbishops should beconsecrated by him, instead of by their ownmetropolitan. When, for example, the complaint was raised that Bishop Celidonius ofBesançon had beenconsecrated in violation of the canons—the grounds alleged being that he had, as alayman, married awidow, and, as a public officer, had given his consent to a death sentence—Hilary deposed him, andconsecrated Importunus as his successor. Celidonius thereupon appealed to thepope and set out in person forRome. About the same time Hilary, as if thesee concerned had been vacant,consecrated anotherbishop to take the place of a certain Bishop Projectus, who was ill. Projectus recovered, however, and he too laid a complaint atRome about the action of theBishop of Arles. Hilary then went himself toRome to justify his proceedings. Thepope assembled a Roman synod (about 445) and, when the complaints brought against Celidonius could not be verified, reinstated the latter in hissee. Projectus also received hisbishopric again. Hilary returned to Arles before the synod was over; thepope deprived him ofjurisdiction over the other Gallic provinces and ofmetropolitanrights over the province of Vienne, only allowing him to retain his Diocese of Arles.

These decisions were disclosed by Leo in a letter to thebishops of the Province of Vienne (ep. x). At the same time he sent them an edict ofValentinian III of 8 July, 445, in which thepope's measures in regard to St. Hilary were supported, and the primacy of theBishop of Rome over the whole Church solemnly recognized "Epist. Leonis," ed.Ballerini, I, 642). On his return to hisbishopric Hilary sought a reconciliation with thepope. After this there arose no further difficulties between these two saintly men and, after his death in 449, Hilary was declared by Leo as "beatæ memoriæ". To Bishop Ravennius, St. Hilary's successor in thesee of Arles, and thebishops of that province, Leo addressed most cordial letters in 449 on the election of the newmetropolitan (epp. xl, xli). When Ravenniusconsecrated a little later a newbishop to take the place of the deceasedBishop ofVaison, theArchbishop of Vienne, who was then inRome, took exception to this action. Thebishops of the province of Arles then wrote a joint letter to thepope, in which they begged him to restore to Ravennius therights of which his predecessor Hilary had been deprived (ep. lxv inter ep. Leonis). In his replydated 5 May, 450 (ep. lxvi), Leo acceded to their request. TheArchbishop of Vienne was to retain only the suffraganBishoprics ofValence,Tarentaise,Geneva, and Grenoble; all the other sees in the Province of Vienne were made subject to theArchbishop of Arles, who also became again the mediator between theHoly See and the whole Gallic episcopate. Leo transmitted to Ravennius (ep. lxvii), for communication to the other Gallicanbishops, his celebrated letter toFlavian of Constantinople on the Incarnation. Ravennius thereupon convened asynod, at which forty-four chiefpastors assembled. In their synodal letter of 451, they affirm that they accept thepope's letter as a symbol offaith (ep. xxix inter ep. Leonis). In his answer Leo speaks further of the condemnation of Nestorius (ep. cii). The Vicariate of Arles for a long time retained the position Leo had accorded it. Anotherpapal vicariate was that of thebishops ofThessalonica, whosejurisdiction extended overIllyria. The specialduty of this vicariate was to protect therights of theHoly See over the district of EasternIllyria, which belonged to the Eastern Empire. Leo bestowed the vicariate upon Bishop Anastasius ofThessalonica, just asPope Siricius had formerly entrusted it to Bishop Anysius. The vicar was toconsecrate themetropolitans, to assemble in a synod allbishops of the Province of EasternIllyria, to oversee their administration of their office; but the most important matters were to be submitted toRome (epp. v, vi, xiii). But Anastasius ofThessalonica used his authority in an arbitrary and despotic manner, so much so that he was severely reproved by Leo, who sent him fuller directions for the exercise of his office (ep. xiv).

In Leo's conception of hisduties as supremepastor, the maintenance of strictecclesiastical discipline occupied a prominent place. This was particularly important at a time when the continual ravages of the barbarians were introducing disorder into all conditions of life, and the rules of morality were being seriously violated. Leo used his utmost energy in maintining this discipline, insisted on the exact observance of theecclesiasticalprecepts, and did not hesitate to rebuke whennecessary. Letters (ep. xvii) relative to these and other matters were sent to the differentbishops of the Western Empire—e.g., to thebishops of the Italian provinces (epp. iv, xix, clxvi, clxviii), and to those ofSicily, who had tolerated deviations from the Roman Liturgy in the administration of Baptism (ep. xvi), and concerning other matters (ep. xvii). A very important disciplinarydecree was sent tobishopRusticus of Narbonne (ep. clxvii). Owing to the dominion of theVandals in Latin North Africa, the position of theChurch there had become extremely gloomy. Leo sent the Romanpriest Potentius thither to inform himself about the exact condition, and to forward a report toRome. On receiving this Leo sent a letter of detailed instructions to the episcopate of the province about the adjustment of numerousecclesiastical and disciplinary questions (ep. xii). Leo also sent a letter toDioscurus of Alexandria on 21 July, 445, urging him to the strict observance of the canons and discipline of theRoman Church (ep. ix). The primacy of theRoman Church was thus manifested under thispope in the most various and distinct ways. But it was especially in his interposition in the confusion of theChristological quarrels, which then so profoundly agitatedEastern Christendom, that Leo most brilliantly revealed himself the wise, learned, and energetic shepherd of theChurch (seeM). From his first letter on this subject, written toEutyches on 1 June, 448 (ep. xx), to his last letter written to the neworthodoxPatriarch ofAlexandria, Timotheus Salophaciolus, on 18 August, 460 (ep. clxxi), we cannot but admire the clear, positive, and systematic manner in which Leo, fortified by the primacy of theHoly See, took part in this difficult entanglement. For particulars refer to the articles:E;S F;R C E.

Eutyches appealed to thepope after he had beenexcommunicated byFlavian,Patriarch of Constantinople, on account of hisMonophysite views. Thepope, after investigating the disputed question, sent his sublime dogmatic letter toFlavian (ep. xxviii), concisely setting forth and confirming thedoctrine of the Incarnation, and the union of the Divine and human natures in the one Person of Christ . In 449 the council, which was designated by Leo as the "Robber Synod", was held.Flavian and other powerfulprelates of the East appealed to thepope. The latter sent urgent letters to Constantinople, particularly to Emperor Theodosius II and Empress Pulcheria, urging them to convene ageneral council in order to restore peace to theChurch. To the same end he used his influence with the Western emperor,Valentinian III, and his mother Galla Placidia, especially during their visit toRome in 450. This general council was held in Chalcedon in 451 under Marcian, the successor of Theodosius. It solemnly accepted Leo's dogmatical epistle toFlavian as an expression of theCatholicFaith concerning the Person of Christ. Thepope confirmed the decrees of the Council after eliminating the canon, which elevated the Patriarchate of Constantinople, while diminishing therights of the ancient Orientalpatriarchs. On 21 March, 453, Leo issued a circular letter confirming hisdogmatic definition (ep. cxiv). Through the mediation of Bishop Julian of Cos, who was at that time thepapal ambassador in Constantinople, thepope tried to protect furtherecclesiastical interests in the Orient. He persuaded the new Emperor of Constantinople, Leo I, to remove theheretical and irregular patriarch, Timotheus Ailurus, from theSee of Alexandria. A new andorthodox patriarch, Timotheus Salophaciolus, was chosen to fill his place, and received the congratulations of thepope in the last letter which Leo ever sent to the Orient.

In his far-reaching pastoral care of the Universal Church, in the West and in the East, thepope never neglected the domestic interests of theChurch atRome. When NorthernItaly had been devastated byAttila, Leo by a personal encounter with the King of the Huns prevented him from marching uponRome. At the emperor's wish, Leo, accompanied by the Consul Avienus and the Prefect Trigetius, went in 452 to UpperItaly, and metAttila at Mincio in the vicinity ofMantua, obtaining from him the promise that he would withdraw fromItaly and negotiate peace with the emperor. Thepope also succeeded in obtaining another great favour for the inhabitants ofRome. When in 455 the city was captured by theVandals under Genseric, although for a fortnight the town had been plundered, Leo's intercession obtained a promise that the city should not be injured and that the lives of the inhabitants should be spared. These incidents show the high moral authority enjoyed by thepope, manifested even in temporal affairs. Leo was always on terms of intimacy with the Western Imperial Court. In 450Emperor Valentinian III visitedRome, accompanied by his wife Eudoxia and his mother Galla Placidia. On the feast of Cathedra Petri (22 February), the Imperialfamily with their brilliant retinue took part in the solemn services at St. Peter's, upon which occasion thepope delivered an impressive sermon. Leo was also active in building and restoring churches. He built abasilica over the grave ofPope Cornelius in the Via Appia. The roof ofSt. Paul's without the Walls having been destroyed by lightning, he had it replaced, and undertook other improvements in the basilica. He persuaded Empress Galla Placidia, as seen from the inscription, to have executed the greatmosaic of the Arch of Triumph, which has survived to our day. Leo also restored St. Peter's on the Vatican. During his pontificate apious Roman lady, named Demetria, erected on herproperty on the Via Appia abasilica inhonour of St. Stephen, the ruins of which have been excavated.

Leo was no less active in the spiritual elevation of theRoman congregations, and hissermons, of which ninety-six genuine examples have been preserved, are remarkable for their profundity, clearness of diction, and elevated style. The first five of these, which were delivered on the anniversaries of hisconsecration, manifest his lofty conception of the dignity of his office, as well as his thorough conviction of the primacy of theBishop of Rome, shown forth in so outspoken and decisive a manner by his whole activity as supremepastor. Of his letters, which are of great importance forchurch history, 143 have come down to us: we also possess thirty which were sent to him. The so-called "Sacramentarium Leonianum" is a collection of orations and prefaces of the Mass, prepared in the second half of the sixth century. Leo died on 10 November, 461, and was buried in thevestibule of St. Peter's on the Vatican. In 688Pope Sergius had his remains transferred to the basilica itself, and a special altar erected over them. They rest today in St. Peter's, beneath the altar specially dedicated to St. Leo. In 1754Benedict XIV exalted him to the dignity ofDoctor of the Church (doctor ecclesiæ). In theLatin Church thefeast day of the greatpope is held on 11 April, and in theEastern Church on 18 February.

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