Leo the Great

Bishop of Rome · c. 390–461

Little is known of Leo’s early life. He served twenty-one years as bishop of Rome (440–461) and is one of only three popes to be called “the Great.” In 452 he met Attila the Hun to dissuade him from invading Italy.1

Against Nestorianism, which divided Christ into two persons, and Eutychianism, which blended his natures into one, Leo taught that Christ is one person in two natures, truly God and truly man. A council at Ephesus in 449 refused to read his Tome, and Leo called it a “robber synod.” Emperor Marcian then called the Council of Chalcedon (451), where some 370 bishops approved Leo’s Tome as the orthodox position.2 Some members of the council cried out:

That is the faith of the fathers, the faith of the apostles. We all believe thus, the orthodox believe so!3 Bishops at Chalcedonon hearing Leo’s Tome, 451

His Legacy

Leo’s Christology passed into the Chalcedonian Definition, which the Reformers received as faithful to Scripture. But Leo also taught that Peter’s authority belonged to the bishop of Rome and passed to each of his successors, and he began to use the title “pope” in a special sense for that office. Some believe that in Leo we find the first truly Roman Catholic pope.4

Church Fathers

Notes

  1. “The 100 Most Important Events in Church History,” Christian History 28 (1990), “The Council of Chalcedon (451).” James G. McCarthy, The Gospel According to Rome (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 1995), on Leo I; Mark Galli and Ted Olsen, eds., 131 Christians Everyone Should Know (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2000), “Gregory the Great.” Summarized. ↩
  2. Nathan Busenitz, Forerunners of the Faith Teacher’s Guide: 13 Lessons to Understand and Appreciate the Basics of Church History (Chicago: Moody, 2020), 75; “100 Most Important Events,” “The Council of Chalcedon (451).” Summarized. ↩
  3. Michael J. Vlach, “Historical Theology I: A.D. 100–1600” (course notes, TH 507, The Master’s Seminary, Fall 2007), “Leo the Great.” ↩
  4. McCarthy, Gospel According to Rome, on Leo I; Sam Storms, Studies in Roman Catholicism (n.p., n.d.), on the papacy; Vlach, “Historical Theology I,” “Leo the Great.” Summarized. ↩