Saint Leo the Great, Pope

Saint Leo the Great, a native of Tuscany, became a deacon of the Church of Rome around the year 430. Ten years later, he was sent by Empress Plácida to pacify Gaul, which was being disputed by General Aetius and the praetorian prefect Albino. After a few months, Pope Sixtus III died, and Leo, his advisor, was chosen as his successor. His consecration as Pontiff took place on September 29, 440, becoming the 45th Pope in history.

Convinced Attila to change his mind

In the year 452 AD, the Italian peninsula was being threatened by the Huns, led by Attila. Much of the north had already fallen to the invader, with the cities of Aquileia, Padua and Milan being conquered, sacked and razed. Attila advanced towards Mantua, on the Mincio river. It was at this crucial moment that Leo the Great, elected Pope twelve years earlier, led a delegation from Rome to meet Attila. With his courage, Leo managed to dissuade Attila from continuing the war of invasion. According to legend, Attila withdrew after seeing the Apostles Peter and Paul appear behind Leo, armed with swords. This story was immortalized in the frescoes in the Vatican Rooms, painted by Raphael.

Prevented the city from being burned down

Three years later, in 455 AD, Leo the Great, known as “Pope the Great”, unarmed, managed to stop the Vandals from Africa at the gates of Rome, led by King Gaiseric. Thanks to Leo’s courageous intervention, the city was sacked but not burned. The Basilicas of Saint Peter, Saint Paul outside the Walls and Saint John in the Lateran remained intact and were refuges for the population.

Saint Leo the Great: Defender of the doctrine of the Church

The life of Saint Leo the Great was not just limited to his commitment to peace. He also dedicated himself fervently to defending the doctrine of the Church. It was he who inspired the Council of Chalcedon, held in Kadiköy, present-day Turkey. At this council, the unity of Christ’s two natures was recognized and affirmed: human and divine. Furthermore, Leo rejected the heresy of Eutyches, which denied the human essence of the Son of God. His intervention at the council was carried out through the “Tome of Leo”, a fundamental doctrinal text against Flavian, bishop of Constantinople. The document was read publicly to the 350 council fathers, who welcomed it by acclamation, recognizing that “Peter spoke through the mouth of Leo, who taught according to piety and truth”.

Writings and legacy

In addition to his actions as a defender of doctrine, Saint Leo the Great was a prolific writer. He left to history almost 100 sermons and around 150 letters, in which he demonstrated that he was a dedicated theologian and pastor. He had a special concern for the communion between the various Churches and the needs of the faithful. In a Rome dominated by scarcity, poverty, injustice and pagan superstitions, Leo encouraged works of charity and sought to maintain justice. He believed that with Christ all things were possible and lovingly offered mercy.

The first successor of Peter to be called “Magno”

The Pontificate of Saint Leo the Great lasted 21 years and was marked by several primacies. He was the first Bishop of Rome to be given the name Leo and the first successor of Peter to be called “Magno”. Furthermore, Saint Leo the Great and Saint Gregory the Great are the only Popes to receive the title of “Doctor of the Church” for their preaching, granted in 1754 by Pope Benedict XIV.

Conclusion

The death of Saint Leo the Great on November 10, 461 marked the end of a life dedicated to defending the faith and seeking peace. He was buried in the Vatican Basilica, becoming the first Pope to be buried there. His relics are still preserved in the Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Pilar, in Saint Peter’s Basilica. Throughout his Pontificate, Saint Leo the Great left a lasting legacy as a defender of Church doctrine and an example of spiritual leadership.