A trio of Leo's

As we celebrate Pope St Leo I the Great's festival today, November 10; we do not wish to confuse him. To keep our Pope Leo's straight, here are history's top 3, most discussed Pope Leo's in order of appearance. They are today's Pope St Leo I the Great, Pope Leo X and Pope Leo XIII. Their politics, doctrine and contributions are contrasted below.

1. Today's feast celebrates Pope St Leo I the Great as a strong scriptural student and theologist. An eloquent writer and homilist, he was pope from 440 to 461.

Politics. When Attila the Hun marched on Rome, St Leo went out to meet him. As Leo approached, Attila saw a vision of a man in priestly robes carrying a bare sword and threatening to kill the invader if he did not obey. Spooked, Attila retreated. As St Leo had a great devotion to Saint Peter the Apostle, it is generally believed Attila saw a vision of St Peter, Leo's favorite saint. The only Biblical reference of St Peter with a sword is when Our Lord was taken into custody. St Peter grabbed a Roman centurions' sword & amputated Malchus' ear that Jesus, the Divine surgeon immediately reattached. When Genseric & the Vandals sacked Rome in 455, St Leo’s sanctity and eloquence managed to save the 3-main Cathedrals: St John Lateran Archbasilica and the basilicas of St Peter's and St Paul's. This may be why the Lateran feast precedes today's feast.

Doctrine. The Council of Chalcedon (451) declared Leo’s Tome as the voice of Peter. He wrote that papal power was granted by Christ to St. Peter and was passed to his successors. The Council of Chalcedon condemned heresies of the day: Nestorianism, Monophysitism, Manichaeism, and Pelagianism.

Contributions. For his encouraging letters and edifying sermons, Leo was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1574 by Pope Benedict XIV. He was the first saint entitled "the Great" because of unifying Western church orthodoxy via papal supremacy. His Tome established Christ’s fully human and fully divine natures. Christ's divine Incarnation reveals how human nature is restored to perfect unity through His divinity.

2. Pope Leo X reigned from 1513 to 1521. He is known for his decadence and interactions with Martin Luther.

Politics. As head of the Florentine Medici family and ruler of the Papal States, Leo X used nepotism to exert influence in Italy. He appointed relatives to key positions, such as his cousin as archbishop of Florence. Leo formed alliances to counter French claims in Italy. He later made peace with the French king and established the Concordat of Bologna in 1516. While this regulated church-state relations in France for 275 years, it gave power to the French kings, to nominate bishops, abbots, and priors.

Doctrine. To finance papal projects, Leo X authorized the sale of indulgences. This led Martin Luther to circulate his 95 Theses. After Luther's ideas reached Rome, Leo X ordered him silenced, unsuccessfully. Too late, Leo charged Luther with heresy and ordered him to recant. When Luther defied the pope, Leo X excommunicated him in 1521, which brought Luther more fame and notoriety.

Contributions. He attempted to make Rome a cultural center using the papal treasury. The bill for the arts and construction of St. Peter’s Basilica, depleted the Vatican's finances. He did not view the Lutheran movement with seriousness. To date, he has not been canonized. As the 217th pope, he is remembered for his lavish lifestyle and questionable financial practices, all of which fueled and footnoted the Protestant Reformation.

3. Pope Leo XIII is the namesake patron of our pope today. He was elected pope in 1878 at age 68. Despite frail health, he directed the church until 1903.

Politics. As a conservative, he opposed Freemasonry and secular liberalism. Yet, he brought an energetic, conciliatory attitude toward civil governments with interest in scientific progress. He encouraged dialogue with the Anglicans and was respectful to Eastern church traditions.

Doctrine. His social justice ideations were cemented in Rerum Novarum, Thomism and devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to Mother Mary. Pope Leo was theologically conservative and opposed rationalism, modernism, socialism and Americanism, all of which he viewed as diluting Catholic doctrine.

Contributions. Pope Leo XIII's challenges were the social changes and scientific progress brought on by the Industrial Revolution. He is credited with composing the Leonine, post-Eucharistic prayer to St. Michael the Archangel after a vision of satan negotiating with God for more time to destroy creation.

Anti-racism. Pope St Leo I the Great, left us a brilliant sermon about racism. We ask for his intercession in our turbulent times. He writes,

“…the star beckoned 3 wise men out of distant countries and led them to

adore the King of heaven and earth.

The obedience of this star calls us to imitate its humble service:

to be servants which invite all men to find Christ.

- from a sermon by Pope St Leo I the Great

Sources:

St. Leo I | Patron Saint Of, Biography, Papacy, Legacy, & Facts | Britannica

Leo X | Biography, Giovanni de’ Medici, Pope, Renaissance, & Patron of the Arts | Britannica

Leo XIII | Pope, Encyclicals, Providentissimus Deus, Rerum Novarum, & Facts | Britannica