![\"LeotheGreat\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/572\/2017\/09\/LeotheGreat.jpg\")
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Pope St. Leo the Great, who reigned from 440 to 461, considered by many Protestant and secular historians as the first pope, and revered as a saint by the Orthodox, spoke perhaps more clearly than anyone up to that time concerning Roman primacy and papal duties, prerogatives, and supremacy, yet his views were merely the culmination and more advanced development of what had been the essential beliefs of the universal (that is, Catholic) Church from the beginning. All the words below are his own (blue<\/span> highlighting is my own, not based on italics in the original):<\/p>\n * * * * *<\/p>\n The Lord . . . wanted His gifts to\u00a0flow into the entire body from Peter himself, as if from the\u00a0head<\/span>, in such a way that anyone who had dared to separate himself from the solidarity of Peter<\/span> would realize that he was himself no longer a sharer in the divine mystery . . . The Apostolic See<\/span> . . . has on countless occasions been reported to in consultation by bishops . . . And through the appeal of various cases to this see<\/span>, decisions already made have been either\u00a0revoked or confirmed<\/span>, as dictated by longstanding custom.\u00a0(Letter to the Bishops of Vienne, July 445, 10:1-2; in William A. Jurgens, editor and translator,\u00a0The Faith of the Early Fathers<\/i>\u00a0(\u201cFEF\u201c<\/i>), 3 volumes, Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 1970, vol. 3, 269) [link to Schaff, NPNF2<\/a>]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Although bishops have a common dignity, they are not all of the same rank. Even among the most blessed Apostles, though they were alike in honor, there was a certain distinction of power. All were equal in being chosen, but it was given to one to be\u00a0preeminent\u00a0over the others . . . the\u00a0care of the universal Church would converge in the one See of Peter, and nothing should ever be at odds with this\u00a0head.<\/span> (Letter to Bishop Anastasius of Thessalonica, c. 446, 14:12; FEF,\u00a0<\/i>vol. 3, 270)\u00a0[link to\u00a0<\/a>Schaff, NPNF2<\/a>]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n From the whole world only one,\u00a0Peter, is chosen to preside over the calling of all nations, and over all the other Apostles, and over the Fathers of the Church<\/span>\u00a0. . . Peter . . .\u00a0rules them all<\/span>, of whom, too, it is Christ who is their chief ruler. Divine condescension, dearly beloved, has granted to this man in a wonderful and marvelous manner the aggregate of its power<\/span>; and if there was something that it wanted to be his in common with other leaders, it never gave whatever it did not deny to others\u00a0except through him<\/span>. <\/i>(Sermons, 4:2; FEF, vol. 3, 275)<\/span><\/p>\n For not only was the power of binding and loosing given to Peter before the others<\/span>, but also to Peter more especially was\u00a0entrusted the care of feeding the sheep<\/span>. Yet anyone who denies that the\u00a0headship<\/span>\u00a0must be denied to Peter<\/span>, cannot really diminish his dignity: but is puffed up with the breath of his pride, and plunges himself to the lowest depth. (Letters, 10:2, 450, in Philip Schaff and Henry Wace, editors,\u00a0Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers \u2013 Leo the Great, Gregory the Great<\/i>, 2nd series (\u201cNPNF2\u201d), vol. 12 (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson, 1994), 9) [link<\/a>]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [T]he Universal Church<\/span> has become a rock (petra<\/i>) through the building up of that original Rock, and the first of the Apostles, the most blessed Peter<\/span> . . . (Letters, 156:2, 458, NPNF2, 100) [link<\/a>]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [R]emember that system of doctrine of which the\u00a0chief of all the Apostles, the blessed Peter, laid the foundation<\/span>, not only by his uniform preaching throughout the world, but especially by his teaching in the cities of Antioch and Rome: so that you may understand that he demands of him who is set over the home of his own renown those institutions which he handed down, as he received them from the Truth Itself, which he confessed. And in the churches of the East, and especially in those which the canons of the most holy Fathers at Nicaea (3) assigned to the See of Antioch, you must not by any means allow unscrupulous heretics to make assaults on the Gospel, and the dogmas of either Nestorius or Eutyches to be maintained by any one. Since, as I have said,\u00a0the rock (petra<\/em>) of the Catholic Faith, from which the blessed Apostle Peter took his name at the LORD\u2019S hands, rejects every trace of either heresy; . . .<\/span><\/p>\n V. If Leo\u2019s legates in any way exceeded their instructions, they did so ineffectually.<\/p>\n Of course, if anything is alleged to have been done by those brethren whom I sent in my stead to the holy Synod, beyond that which was germane to the Faith, it shall he of no weight at all: because\u00a0they were sent by the Apostolic See only for the purpose of extirpating heresy and upholding the Catholic Faith.<\/span><\/p>\n For whatever is laid before bishops for inquiry beyond the particular subjects which come before synodal councils may admit of a certain amount of free discussion, if the holy Fathers have laid down nothing thereon at Nicaea. For anything that is not in agreement with their rules and constitutions can never obtain the assent of the Apostolic See<\/span>. But how great must be the diligence with which this rule is kept, you will gather from the copies of\u00a0the letter which we sent to the bishop of Constantinople, restraining his cupidity<\/span>; and you shall take order that it reach the knowledge of all our brethren and fellow-priests . . . (Letter 119:2, 5; 11 June 453, NPNF2,\u00a085-87) [link<\/a>]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n I. He is pleased to have been consulted by the bishops (6) Illyricum on important questions.<\/p>\n The brotherly love of our colleagues makes us read with grateful mind the letters of all priests (7); for in them we embrace one another in the spirit as if we were face to face, and by the intercourse of such epistles we are associated in mutual converse (8). But in this present letter the affection displayed seems to us greater than usual: for it informs us of\u00a0the state of the churches<\/span> (9), and urges us to a vigilant exercise of care by a consideration of our office, so that being placed, as it were, on a watch-tower, according to the will of the LORD, we should both lend our approval to things when they run in accordance with our wishes<\/span>, <\/i>and correct, by applying the remedies of compulsion, what we observe gone wrong through any aggression:\u00a0hoping that abundant fruit will be the result of our sowing the seed, if we do not allow those things to increase which have begun to spring up to the spoiling of the harvest.<\/p>\n II. Following the examples of his predecessors he nominates Anastasius Metropolitan of Illyricum.<\/p>\n Now therefore, dear brother, that your request has been made known to us through our son Nicolaus the priest, that you, too, like your predecessors, might receive from us in our turn authority over Illyricum for the observance of the rules,\u00a0we give our consent and earnestly exhort that no concealment and no negligence may be allowed in the management of the churches situated throughout Illyricum<\/span>,<\/i>\u00a0which we commit to you in our stead, following the precedent of Siricius of blessed remembrance, . . .<\/p>\n V. Points which cannot be settled at the provincial synod are to be\u00a0referred to Rome<\/span>.<\/i><\/p>\n . . . by our decision we may vindicate\u00a0our right of cognizance in accordance with old-established tradition and the respect that is due to the Apostolic See<\/span>: for as we wish you to exercise your authority in our stead, so we reserve to ourselves points which cannot be decided on the spot and persons who have made appeal to us.<\/p>\n VI. Priests and deacons may not be ordained on weekdays any more than bishops.<\/p>\n You shall take order that this letter reach the knowledge of all the brethren, so that no one hereafter find an opportunity to excuse himself through ignorance in observing\u00a0these things which we command<\/span> . . .\u00a0<\/i>(Letter 6:1-2, 5; 12 January 444, NPNF2, 4-6) [link<\/a>]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n III. The City of Constantinople<\/span>, royal though it be, can never be raised to Apostolic rank<\/span>.<\/p>\n Let the city of Constantinople have, as we desire, its high rank, and under the protection of God\u2019s right hand, long enjoy your clemency\u2019s rule.\u00a0Yet things secular stand on a different basis from things divine: and there can be no sure building save on that rock which the Lord has laid for a foundation.<\/span><\/p>\n He that covets what is not his due, loses what is his own. Let it be enough for Anatolius that by the aid of your piety and by my favour and approval he has obtained the bishopric of so great a city. Let him not disdain a city which is royal,\u00a0though he cannot make it an Apostolic See<\/span>\u00a0<\/i>[3]; and let him on no account hope that he can rise by doing injury to others. For the privileges of the churches determined by the canons of the holy Fathers, and fixed by the decrees of the Nicene Synod, cannot be overthrown by any unscrupulous act, nor disturbed by any innovation. And in the faithful execution of this task by the aid of Christ I am bound to display an unflinching devotion; for it is a charge entrusted to me<\/span>, and it tends to my condemnation if the rules sanctioned by the Fathers and drawn up under the guidance of God\u2019s Spirit at the Synod of Nicaea\u00a0for the government of the whole Church<\/span>\u00a0<\/i>are violated with my connivance (which God forbid), and if the wishes of a single brother have more weight with me than the common good of the Lord\u2019s whole house. (Letter 104:3, NPNF2, 22 May 452, 75) [link<\/a>]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n III. The Synod of Chalcedon, which met for one purpose, ought never to have been used for another.<\/p>\n Accordingly these things which are found to be contrary to those most holy canons are exceedingly unprincipled and misguided. This haughty arrogance tends to the disturbance of the whole Church, which has purposed so to misuse a synodal council, as by wicked arguments to over-persuade, or by intimidation to compel, the brethren to agree with it, when they had been summoned simply on a matter of Faith, and had come to a decision on the subject which was to engage their care. For it was on this ground that\u00a0our brothers sent by the Apostolic see, who presided in our stead at the synod with commendable firmness, withstood their illegal attempts, openly protesting against the introduction of any reprehensible innovation contrary to the enactments of the Council of Nicaea<\/span>. . . .\u00a0<\/span><\/i>(Letter 106:3, NPNF2, 22 May 452, 77-79) [link<\/a>]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n I. . . . the most blessed Peter received the\u00a0headship of the Apostles\u00a0from the LORD<\/span>, and the Church of Rome still abides by His institutions . . . (Letter 9:1, c. 445, NPNF2, 7) [link<\/a>]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I. . . . that solicitude which by the Divine command we bestow on the whole Church<\/span> . . .\u00a0(Letter 12:1, 10 August 446, NPNF2, 12) [link<\/a>]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n II. . . . I . . . have delegated my authority to you, beloved, so that you, imitating our gentleness, might assist us in the\u00a0care which we owe primarily to all the churches by Divine institution\u00a0. . .<\/span><\/p>\n XII. . . . Though they have a common dignity, yet they have not a uniform rank; inasmuch as even among the blessed Apostles, notwithstanding the similarity of their honourable estate, there was a certain distinction of power, and while the election of them all was equal,\u00a0yet<\/em> it was given to one to take the lead of the rest . . . The care of the universal Church should converge towards Peter\u2019s one seat, and nothing anywhere should be separated from its Head.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>(Letter 14:2, 12, NPNF2, 16, 19) [link<\/a>]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n II. From Christ and through S. Peter the priesthood is handed on in perpetuity.<\/p>\n Although, therefore, dearly beloved, we be found both weak and slothful in fulfilling the duties of our office, because, whatever devoted and vigorous action we desire to do, we are hindered by the frailty of our very condition; yet having the unceasing propitiation of the Almighty and perpetual Priest, who being like us and yet equal with the Father, brought down His Godhead even to things human, and raised His Manhood even to things Divine, we worthily and piously rejoice over His dispensation, whereby, though He has delegated the care of His sheep to many shepherds, yet He has not Himself abandoned the\u00a0guardianship of His beloved flock.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n And from His overruling and eternal protection we have received the support of the Apostles\u2019 aid also, which assuredly does not cease from its operation: and the\u00a0strength of the foundation, on which the whole superstructure of the Church is reared<\/span>,<\/i>\u00a0is not weakened (1) by the weight of the temple that rests upon it. For the solidity of that faith which was praised in the\u00a0chief of the Apostles\u00a0is perpetual: and as that remains which Peter believed in Christ, so that remains which Christ instituted in Peter<\/span>. For when, as has been read in the Gospel lesson (2), the LORD had asked the disciples whom they believed Him to be amid the various opinions that were held, and the blessed Peter bad replied, saying, \u201cThou art the Christ, the Son of the living GOD,\u201d the LORD says, \u201cBlessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona, because flesh and flood hath not revealed it to thee, but My Father, which is in heaven. And I say to thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shall loose on earth, shall be loosed also in heaven<\/span> (3).\u201d<\/p>\n III. S. Peter\u2019s work is still carried out by his successors.<\/p>\n The dispensation of Truth therefore abides, and the blessed Peter persevering in the strength of the Rock, which he has received, has not abandoned\u00a0the helm of the Church<\/span>, which he undertook. For he was ordained before the rest in such a way that from his being called the Rock, from\u00a0his being pronounced the Foundation, from his being constituted the\u00a0Doorkeeper of the kingdom of heaven, from his being set as the\u00a0Umpire\u00a0to bind and to loose,\u00a0whose judgments shall retain their validity in heaven<\/span>, from all these mystical titles we might know the nature of his association with Christ. And still to-day he more fully and effectually performs what is entrusted to him, and carries out every part of his duty and charge in Him and with Him, through Whom he has been glorified. And so if anything is rightly done and rightly decreed by us, if anything is won from the mercy of GOD by our daily supplications, it is of his work and merits whose power lives and whose authority prevails in his See. For this, dearly-beloved, was gained by\u00a0that confession, which, inspired in the Apostle\u2019s heart by GOD the Father, transcended all the uncertainty of human opinions, and was endued with the firmness of a rock, which no assaults could shake<\/span>.<\/p>\n For throughout the Church Peter daily says, \u201cThou an the Christ, the Son of the living GOD,\u201d and every tongue which confesses the LORD, accepts the instruction his voice conveys. This Faith conquers the devil, and breaks the bonds of his prisoners. It uproots us from this earth and plants us in heaven, and the gates of Hades cannot prevail against it.\u00a0For with such solidity is it endued by GOD that the depravity of heretics cannot mar it nor the unbelief of the heathen overcome it.<\/span><\/p>\n IV. This festival then is in S. Peter\u2019s honour, and the progress of his flock redounds to his glory.<\/p>\n And so, dearly beloved, with reasonable obedience we celebrate to-day\u2019s festival by such methods, that\u00a0in my humble person he may be recognized and honoured, in whom abides the care of all the shepherds, together with the charge of the sheep commended to him, and whose dignity is not abated even in so unworthy an heir.<\/span><\/p>\n And hence the presence of my venerable brothers and fellow-priests, so much desired and valued by me, will be the more sacred and precious, if they will transfer\u00a0the chief honour of this service in which they have deigned to take part to him whom they know to be not only the patron of this see, but also the primate of all bishops.<\/span><\/p>\n When therefore we utter our exhortations in your ears, holy brethren, believe that\u00a0he is speaking whose representative we are: because it is his warning that we give, nothing else but his teaching that we preach, beseeching you to \u201cgird up the loins of your mind (4),\u201d and lead a chaste and sober life in the fear of GOD, and\u00a0not to let your mind forget his supremacy<\/span> and consent to the lusts of the flesh.<\/p>\n . . . For though the whole Church, which is in all the world, ought to abound in all virtues, yet you especially, above all people, it becomes to excel in deeds of piety, because founded as you are on the very citadel of the Apostolic Rock<\/span>, not only has our LORD Jesus Christ redeemed you in common with all men, but the blessed Apostle Peter has instructed you far beyond all men<\/span>. Through the same Christ our LORD.\u00a0(Sermon 3:2-4, NPNF2, 116-118) [link<\/a>]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n . . . the whole\u00a0Church, which ever finds\u00a0Peter\u00a0in\u00a0Peter\u2019s\u00a0See<\/span>, and from affection for so great a shepherd grows not lukewarm even over so inferior a\u00a0successor\u00a0as myself. In order therefore, dearly beloved, that this loyalty which you unanimously display towards my\u00a0humbleness\u00a0may obtain the fruit of its\u00a0zeal, on bended knee entreat the merciful\u00a0goodness\u00a0of our\u00a0God\u00a0that in our days He will drive out those who assail us, strengthen\u00a0faith, increase\u00a0love, increase peace and deign to render me His\u00a0poor\u00a0slave, whom<\/span> to show the\u00a0riches\u00a0of His\u00a0grace\u00a0He has willed to stand at the helm of the\u00a0Church<\/span>, . . . (Sermon 2:2, NPNF2)<\/span> [link<\/a>]<\/p>\n The devout\u00a0faith\u00a0of our most clement prince,\u00a0knowing\u00a0that it especially concerns his\u00a0glory\u00a0to prevent any seed of\u00a0error\u00a0from springing up within the\u00a0Catholic\u00a0Church, has paid such deference to the Divine institutions as to apply to the authority of the\u00a0Apostolic See\u00a0for a proper settlement: as if he wished it to be declared by the most\u00a0blessed\u00a0Peter\u00a0himself<\/span> what was praised in his\u00a0confession, when the\u00a0Lord\u00a0said,\u00a0 [O]n\u00a0Saturday\u00a0let us keep\u00a0vigil\u00a0in the presence of the most\u00a0blessed\u00a0Apostle\u00a0Peter; who, as we experience and\u00a0know, watches unceasingly like a shepherd over the sheep entrusted to him by the\u00a0Lord<\/span>, and who\u00a0will\u00a0prevail in his entreaties that the\u00a0Church of God, which was founded by his preaching, may be free from all\u00a0error<\/span>, through\u00a0Christ\u00a0our\u00a0Lord.\u00a0Amen.\u00a0(Sermon 16:6, NPNF2)<\/span> [link<\/a>]<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Related reading:<\/strong><\/p>\nwhom do\u00a0men\u00a0say that I, the\u00a0Son of man, am\u00a0?<\/q>\u00a0and the\u00a0disciples\u00a0mentioned various people\u2019s opinion: but, when He asked what they themselves\u00a0believed, the chief of the\u00a0apostles, embracing the fullness of the\u00a0Faith<\/span>\u00a0in one short sentence, said,\u00a0
You are the\u00a0Christ, the son of the living\u00a0God\u00a0:<\/q>
\n. . . (Letter 33:1; 13 June 449, NPNF2) [<\/span><\/span>link<\/a>]<\/p>\n