The great Pope St. Leo did not back down from any challenge to the faith of the Church—he guided our understanding of Jesus’ human and divine natures at a critical moment in history, and even faced down Attila the Hun in person.

Leo was born at the end of the fourth century to a family from Tuscany, Italy, though he called Rome his home. He received a good education and was selected to serve the Church in Rome as a deacon. He was raised to positions of responsibility under two popes.

In 440, rival generals in the Roman army had a feud that threatened the security of the region of what is now France. Leo was sent to reconcile the two generals. While he was away, the reigning pope died, and messengers had to fetch Leo to tell him he had been elected to replace him.

Leo quickly became known for his edifying homilies, and his systematic and instructive preaching became a model for pastors in Rome and beyond. He was a prolific correspondent, sending letters far and wide to correct and encourage the faithful.

Leo became pope during the Christological debates of fifth-century Christianity. As the Church worked through the message of the Gospel in light of contemporary philosophy, different theologians proposed various models for how to understand the person Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church attempted to define orthodox Christology, that is, a theological-philosophical account of who and what Christ is. During Leo’s reign, the Church called the Council of Chalcedon in 451, which is one of the most important “Christological Councils,” as it formulated the Chalcedonian Creed, which stated Christ is “two natures [human and divine] unconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably united in one person.”‘ The Chalcedonian Formula, as it is known, is the foundation for Christian orthodoxy to this day.

The following year, Attila the Hun was making his way with his army into Italy, pillaging their way as they traveled across the country. After burning Aquileia, sacking Milan, and razing Pavia, Attila and his forces turned towards Rome. The people panicked and the general of the army was too terrified to encounter Attila that they could not act, so the emperor and senate turned to the strongest and wisest person they knew—Pope Leo—and ordered him to negotiate with Attila.

Near present-day Peschiera, Leo and Attila met face-to-face. Leo convinced Attila to accept an annual payment in exchange for the safety of the city, and Rome was protected for the moment. Three years later, however, Vandal invaders approached, and again Leo was called upon to negotiate. He was only able to obtain a promise from the Vandals to not kill the people and burn the city. They had their way with everything else, leaving Rome with captives and much treasure.

Leo responded to the crisis immediately. He collected money to serve the people enslaved in Africa and sent priests to serve them. He also did what he could to replace the sacred vessels and objects that had been taken from churches. It is said that he was never discouraged—even in the most troubling circumstances, he trusted God above all, which gave him a steady heart and strong judgment.

Leo died on this date in 461 and has been declared a doctor of the Church—a designation given to only thirty-seven saints for their efforts to teach the faith and the great example of their wisdom. To honor his prolific leadership, Leo is known as “Leo the Great”—a designation given to only three other popes (Gregory I, Nicholas I, and John Paul II). Some of Leo’s relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Notre Dame’s campus.

Pope St. Leo the Great, fierce defender of the faith and of your city—pray for us!

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Image Credit: Our featured image of Pope St. Leo the Great is in the public domain. Last accessed October 10, 2024 on Wikimedia Commons.