In every age of the Church, God raises leaders who guide His people through times of confusion and fear. One such leader was St. Leo the Great, one of the most outstanding popes of the early Church. Living in the 5th century AD, a time when the mighty Roman Empire was crumbling and the faith of many was being tested, St. Leo stood like a pillar of strength: wise, compassionate, and deeply rooted in God.
Born around the year 400 AD, probably in Tuscany, Italy, Leo was known from his youth for his intelligence, calm nature and devotion to the Church. Before becoming pope, he served as a deacon under Popes Celestine I and Sixtus III, where his gift for diplomacy and teaching was quickly recognized. When he was chosen as Pope in 440 AD, he accepted the role with great humility, saying that to serve God’s people was both a heavy responsibility and a sacred calling. Pope Leo led the Church at a time of great turmoil. The Roman Empire was collapsing under attacks from barbarian tribes, and heresies were spreading within the Church, confusing believers about who Christ truly was. Yet, Leo faced every challenge with courage and deep trust in God. One of the most famous events in his life took place in 452 AD, when Attila the Hun, the feared “Scourge of God,” marched toward Rome with his army. The people were terrified, expecting destruction. But Pope Leo, clothed not in armor but in faith, went out to meet Attila personally near Mantua. No one knows exactly what he said, but witnesses recount that Attila turned back and spared the city. This act of peace is remembered as a miracle of courage and divine grace.
Afew years later, in 455 AD, when another invader, Genseric the Vandal, came to Rome, Pope Leo once again stepped forward. Though the Vandals did enter the city, Leo’s appeal for mercy prevented the massacre of its people and the burning of its churches. He showed that true strength lies not in weapons, but in words guided by faith and love. Pope Leo was not only a peacemaker; he was also a great theologian and teacher. His writings and sermons are among the finest of the early Church. In particular, his famous “Tome of Leo” clearly explained that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man, a teaching that became central to Christian belief. This document was so powerful that it was read and approved at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD, shaping the Church’s understanding of Christ for all generations.
Leo’s pastoral care reached beyond doctrine. He constantly reminded his people to live their faith through acts of charity and mercy. He urged Christians to share with the poor, to forgive one another, and to find hope in Christ even when the world seemed to fall apart. In his homilies, he often said, “Christian, remember your dignity.” He wanted every believer to understand that being a follower of Christ was not something small or ordinary, but a calling to holiness and love.
St. Leo was given the title “the Great”, a title very few popes have received, because of the strength of his leadership, the depth of his faith, and the beauty of his writings. He was later declared a Doctor of the Church, an honor given to saints whose teachings continue to guide and inspire the faithful. He died on November 10, 461 AD, and his relics rest in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. His feast is celebrated each year on November 10, a day to remember his courage and his unwavering faith in God’s power.
Ashodi Ferro