Saint Leo the Great, a revered Pope and Doctor of the Church, is celebrated for his profound theological contributions, particularly his defense of Christological doctrine at the Council of Chalcedon, and for asserting the primacy of the Roman See.
Pope Saint Leo I, known as Leo the Great, served as Bishop of Rome from 440 to 461, profoundly shaping the early Church through his theological acuity and diplomatic prowess. He is most renowned for his "Tome of Leo," a pivotal letter that clarified the two natures of Christâfully divine and fully humanâwhich was instrumental in the declarations of the Council of Chalcedon in 451, definitively condemning monophysitism and nestorianism. Beyond his doctrinal contributions, Leo famously met with Attila the Hun in 452, persuading him not to sack Rome, and later intervened with Gaiseric the Vandal in 455 to mitigate the destruction of the city. His pontificate significantly advanced the concept of papal primacy, asserting the Bishop of Rome's authority as the successor of Saint Peter, thereby laying crucial groundwork for the future structure and leadership of the universal Church. He was declared a Doctor of the Church for his extensive and influential writings.
Saint Leo the Great, born in Tuscany around 400 AD, emerged as one of the most influential figures in the early history of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as Pope from 440 to 461 AD. Before his pontificate, Leo distinguished himself within the Roman ecclesiastical hierarchy, holding the esteemed position of archdeacon under Popes Celestine I and Sixtus III. His reputation as a skilled administrator, eloquent orator, and astute theologian preceded him, making him a trusted envoy and advisor. His intellectual acumen and unwavering commitment to orthodox doctrine were evident early in his career, setting the stage for his profound impact on the Church.
Leo's election to the papacy in 440 AD occurred while he was away on a diplomatic mission in Gaul, demonstrating the high regard in which he was held by the Roman clergy and people. His pontificate began amidst a period of significant turmoil for the Western Roman Empire, marked by barbarian invasions, political instability, and theological controversies that threatened to fragment the nascent Christian Church. From the outset, Pope Leo I dedicated himself to strengthening the authority of the Roman See, viewing it as the divinely ordained center of Christian unity and truth, deriving its unique authority from Saint Peter, the Prince of the Apostles.
His most enduring legacy lies in his pivotal role in resolving the Christological controversies that plagued the 5th-century Church, particularly the debates surrounding the nature of Christ. Heresies such as Nestorianism, which separated Christ's divine and human natures, and Monophysitism (Eutychianism), which essentially absorbed Christ's humanity into his divinity, caused widespread division. In response to the escalating crisis, especially after the contentious "Robber Synod" of Ephesus in 449 AD, Leo penned his famous "Tome to Flavian," a masterful theological exposition. This letter, addressed to Flavian, the Patriarch of Constantinople, clearly articulated the orthodox doctrine that Christ possesses two distinct naturesâfully divine and fully humanâunited in one divine Person, without confusion, change, division, or separation.
This "Tome of Leo" became the cornerstone for the Council of Chalcedon, convened by Emperor Marcian in 451 AD. The Council, one of the most significant ecumenical councils in Church history, saw Leo's Tome read aloud. The assembled bishops, upon hearing its clear and precise theological formulation, famously exclaimed, "Peter has spoken through Leo!" The Councilâs final Definition of Chalcedon, affirming Christ as one Person in two natures, drew heavily from Leo's teaching, thereby establishing the normative Christological doctrine that remains central to Christianity. Leo's theological clarity and resolute defense of truth solidified his standing as a Doctor of the Church.
Beyond his theological contributions, Leo also played a crucial diplomatic role in protecting Rome during a tumultuous era. In 452 AD, he famously confronted Attila the Hun at the Mincio River, successfully persuading the formidable "Scourge of God" to turn away from Rome, sparing the city from devastation. Three years later, in 455 AD, when Gaiseric the Vandal advanced on Rome, Leo again intervened, though he could not prevent the city's sack, he did manage to negotiate a mitigation of the violence, preventing widespread slaughter and the burning of the city. These acts underscored his immense moral authority and his dedication to the welfare of the Roman people.
Throughout his twenty-one-year pontificate, Saint Leo the Great tirelessly worked to combat heresies, strengthen ecclesiastical discipline, and promote unity within the Church. His numerous sermons and letters, characterized by their profound theological insight and elegant Latin prose, served as powerful instruments of instruction and exhortation. He vigorously asserted the Petrine primacy, articulating the theological basis for the Bishop of Rome's unique authority as the successor of Saint Peter and the supreme head of the universal Church. His tireless efforts in both spiritual and temporal spheres left an indelible mark on the papacy, solidifying its role and influence for centuries to come. Saint Leo the Great died in 461 AD, leaving behind a legacy of unparalleled theological clarity, courageous leadership, and unwavering devotion to the Apostolic See, earning him the rare distinction of being named a Doctor of the Church.
The year is 452 AD. The mighty Attila the Hun, known as the 'Scourge of God,' stood at the gates of Italy, his vast, terrifying army having already devastated northern cities like Aquileia and Milan. Rome, the eternal city, trembled. Its legions were scattered, its emperors weak, and its people resigned to a fate of brutal conquest and utter destruction. Panic gripped the populace as the news of the Huns' relentless advance spread like wildfire. There seemed no hope, no earthly force capable of stopping the barbarian horde.
Yet, in the midst of this despair, one man stood firm: Pope Leo I, known to history as Leo the Great. He refused to abandon his flock or succumb to fear. While others prepared for flight or surrender, Leo, clad in his pontifical vestments, made a bold, almost unthinkable decision. He would go forth to meet Attila himself, unarmed, relying solely on the power of faith and the authority of Christ.
Accompanied by a small retinue of leading Roman citizens, including the former consul Avienus and the prefect Trigetius, Leo rode north to the Mincio River, where Attila and his army were encamped. Imagine the scene: the vast, fearsome Hunnic camp, the air thick with the smell of unwashed warriors and the menace of impending doom. Then, a small, dignified procession, led by an elderly priest, approaches. Attila, notorious for his cruelty and disdain for Roman authority, was reportedly astonished by Leo's courage.
What transpired between the two men is not fully recorded, but tradition holds that Leo spoke with immense spiritual authority, appealing not only to Attila's sense of reason but also, perhaps, to a deeper, unacknowledged fear of divine judgment. Legend further enhances this dramatic encounter: as Leo spoke, Attila's own chieftains later reported seeing two figures, spectral and majestic, standing beside the Pope. These were the Apostles Peter and Paul, armed with swords, their visages stern and menacing, seemingly ready to strike down the Hunnic king if he did not heed the Pontiff's words. Whether a literal vision or a powerful psychological effect, the outcome was undeniable.
Against all expectations, Attila, who had never before been swayed from his destructive path, turned his army away from Rome. He withdrew his forces, leaving the city miraculously untouched. When questioned by his chieftains about his sudden change of heart, Attila is said to have replied that he was more afraid of the two armed figures standing beside Leo than he was of the Pope himself. This extraordinary event cemented Leo's reputation as a divinely protected leader and a true shepherd of his people, demonstrating his profound faith and the immense spiritual power he wield wielded in the face of overwhelming worldly might.
449 AD
How great the mercy of God, how ineffable the kindness of the Lord, that for our restoration He chose for Himself a Son, coeternal with the Father and co-equal with the Father, Who created all things, and Who is the Beginning and the End of all things, in Whom and through Whom all things were made. He, when the fullness of time was come, which the inscrutable counsel of God had appointed, the Son of God, truly God, entered into the womb of the Virgin, taking from her true humanity, without any loss of His own divinity. This is the truth of the Catholic Faith, which is confirmed by the Gospel, the Prophets, and the Apostles, and which no one can deny without being a heretic.
For the Son of God, descending from His heavenly throne, and not departing from the glory of the Father, entered the lower parts of the world, born in a new order by a new nativity. In a new order, because He who is invisible in His own nature became visible in ours. He who is incomprehensible willed to be comprehended. He who existed before all ages began to be in time. The Lord of the universe veiled His majesty and took on the form of a servant. God, Who cannot suffer, did not disdain to be a suffering man, and, immortal, subject Himself to the laws of death.
For He who is true God was also born true man. There is no doubt in the truth of both natures. For as God is not changed by compassion, so man is not swallowed up by the dignity. For each form performs the actions proper to it, in communion with the other; the Word performing what belongs to the Word, and the flesh carrying out what belongs to the flesh. The one is resplendent with miracles, the other succumbs to injuries. And as the Word does not withdraw from the equality of the Father's glory, so the flesh does not abandon the nature of our race. For one is true God, and the other is true man, each in its own nature.
For it was necessary for our salvation that the Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, should be able to die according to one nature and to be immortal according to the other. Therefore, in the complete and perfect nature of true man, true God was born, whole in His own, whole in ours. For by "ours" we mean what the Creator formed in us from the beginning and what He assumed for Himself to restore. For that which He did not assume, He did not heal. If our nature had not been assumed, no one could have been liberated. If the union of the two natures had not taken place, the Incarnation would have been without effect.
Therefore, let those who deny the true humanity of Christ confess that they are strangers to the mystery of our salvation, and let them admit that they have no part in the grace of Christ. For how can they be saved if they do not believe that the Son of God took on our flesh, and suffered and died in it for us? And how can they believe in Him if they deny that He is truly man, having a body and a soul like ours, save without sin?
This is the faith which the Holy Spirit has taught us, and which the Apostles have handed down, and which the Catholic Church has preserved throughout the world. This is the faith which we must hold firmly and confess boldly, that our Lord Jesus Christ is truly God and truly man, one and the same Person, in two distinct natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation. For this is the rock upon which the Church is built, and against which the gates of hell shall not prevail.
For when the Lord asked His disciples whom men said that He was, and when Peter replied, "Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God," He blessed him, saying, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." This confession of Peter is the foundation of the Church, for in confessing Christ as true God and true man, he confessed the whole mystery of our salvation. And upon this rock, the Church stands firm, unshaken by any storm of heresy or persecution.
Therefore, let us hold fast to this saving doctrine, and let us reject all the cunning deceptions of the heretics, who seek to corrupt the truth of the Catholic Faith. For there is no salvation outside of Christ, and there is no Christ without the full truth of His two natures, perfectly united in one Person. This is the faith of the Fathers, this is the faith of the Apostles, this is the faith of the Church. May we ever remain steadfast in it, for the glory of God and the salvation of our souls. Amen.
March 5, 2008
Dear brothers and sisters,
Continuing our journey through the history of the Church, today we meet a Pope who was one of the most important in the first centuries, Pope Saint Leo I, also known as Saint Leo the Great. As the epithet "Great" suggests, he was truly a great Pope, for his pontificate (440-461) was undoubtedly one of the most important in the Church's history. He was a great theologian and a great pastor. His action as Pope left a very important mark in the history of the Church and also of Europe.
Leo was a Roman by birth, and his pontificate lasted 21 years, 1 month, and 13 days. He was a prominent figure in the Rome of his time, and his influence was felt not only in the ecclesiastical sphere but also in the civil one. He was a man of action and a man of prayer, a man of doctrine and a man of charity. He was a true shepherd who knew how to lead his flock through the difficult times in which he lived.
In the theological field, his name is linked to the Council of Chalcedon, held in 451. This Council, the fourth ecumenical council, was of fundamental importance for the Christology of the Church. The Council affirmed the doctrine of the two natures of Christâdivine and humanâunited in one Person, without confusion, change, division, or separation. This doctrine, which is the cornerstone of our faith, was largely due to Leo's famous "Tome," a letter sent to Flavian, the Patriarch of Constantinople. This letter, full of theological profundity and clarity, became the definitive statement of orthodox Christology. When it was read at the Council, the Fathers exclaimed: "Peter has spoken through Leo!" This acclamation clearly shows the importance that Leo's teaching had for the Council Fathers.
Leo's "Tome" was not merely a theoretical theological treatise; it was a pastoral response to the heresies that were disturbing the Church at the time, particularly Monophysitism, which denied the full humanity of Christ, and Nestorianism, which separated His two natures. Leo understood that these heresies, by distorting the truth about Christ, also undermined the very foundation of salvation. His defense of the true Incarnation was therefore a defense of humanity's redemption.
Beyond his theological work, Leo the Great was also a great pastor and statesman. He lived in a time of great upheaval, with barbarian invasions threatening the very existence of the Roman Empire. In 452, he confronted Attila the Hun, who was advancing towards Rome after devastating northern Italy. Leo, accompanied by a few dignitaries, met Attila at the Mincio River and, through his moral authority and persuasive power, convinced him to turn back and spare Rome. This act was seen as miraculous and greatly enhanced the prestige of the papacy.
Three years later, in 455, when the Vandals, led by Gaiseric, sacked Rome, Leo again intervened. Although he could not prevent the city's sacking, he did manage to negotiate with Gaiseric to limit the violence and prevent the burning of the city and the massacre of its inhabitants. These interventions demonstrate Leo's courage, his dedication to his people, and his willingness to risk his own life for the good of the Church and society.
Leo also worked tirelessly to strengthen the unity of the Church and the authority of the Roman See. He emphasized the Petrine primacy, affirming that the Bishop of Rome, as the successor of Saint Peter, held a unique position of authority over the entire Church. He saw the unity of the Church as a reflection of the unity of Christ, and he worked to ensure that all local churches remained in communion with the See of Rome.
His numerous sermons and letters reveal his deep spiritual insight and his concern for the pastoral care of his flock. He taught on the importance of charity, penance, and the sacraments. He was a true shepherd who guided his people not only with doctrine but also with example. He left behind a rich legacy of writings that continue to inspire and instruct the Church today.
Saint Leo the Great truly deserves the title "Great." He was a faithful servant of Christ, a courageous defender of the truth, and a wise pastor who guided the Church through a period of immense challenges. His pontificate was a turning point in the history of the papacy, establishing the authority and spiritual leadership of the Bishop of Rome for centuries to come. His memory continues to be venerated in the Church, and his teachings remain a source of light for all who seek to understand the mystery of Christ and the nature of the Church.