The See of Peter

The Early Church and Peter's Primacy

Letter XLI, from Pope Leo to Bishop Ravennius of Arles

Synopsis: Leo congratulates Ravennius directly on his elevation to the highest priesthood, noting that it redounds to the glory of all the faithful when such a bishop is appointed; urges him to the balance of virtues that episcopal office requires; reminds him that the just man fulfills the law by voluntary love of righteousness rather than under compulsion; and asks Ravennius to report frequently on his progress, so that Leo may always glory in him.

Leo, bishop, to the most beloved brother Ravennius.

Leo Congratulates Ravennius on His Elevation; Urges Episcopal Virtues; Asks for Regular Reports

Know that your beloved’s advancement to the dignity of the highest priesthood pleases us so greatly that we rejoice not only for your honor’s increase but also for the Church of Arles, over which the Lord has placed you. It redounds to the glory and benefit of all the faithful when such a bishop is appointed, by whose support many are aided and whose example inspires.

Since you know what we thought of your soul’s sincerity from prior acquaintance, you rightly understand, dearest brother, that we justly require you to prove what we presume. Let your modesty not lack authority, your gentleness commend constancy, your leniency temper justice, and your patience restrain liberty. Shunning pride — which leads to a fall — let humility be loved, which always merits growth.

Your beloved is not ignorant of ecclesiastical laws, so you keep all your authority’s rights within their rules and measures. For the just, as it is written, have no law imposed on them (1 Tim. 1:9) — they fulfill the precept’s norm by voluntary judgment, with the love of true righteousness, lacking neither apostolic authorities nor canonical sanctions. As their devoted follower and diligent executor, you will surely glory in the company of those who, for their entrusted talents’ progress, merited to hear: Well done, good and faithful servant; because you were faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your Lord (Matt. 25:23; Luke 19:17).

So that you may not doubt our trust in your beloved, inform us often of your actions’ progress — as, mindful of our judgment, we always wish to glory in your advancement in the Lord. May God keep you safe, dearest brother.

Source/Reference

PL 54:815

Notes / Historical Commentary

Letter XLI is addressed directly to Ravennius — on the same day as Letter XL to the provincial bishops — to congratulate the new bishop of Arles personally and to establish the terms of their ongoing relationship. Leo writes to the provincial bishops as a body confirming the election; he writes to Ravennius as an individual, giving him instruction and enrolling him in Rome’s ongoing oversight. The two letters together complete the transaction of the Arles succession: the collegial confirmation (XL) and the personal commission (XLI).

The letter has no explicit Petrine theology and no dramatic primacy claim. What it has is the consistent structure of papal instruction: Leo knows Ravennius personally; Leo’s prior judgment of him grounds the appointment; the appointment obliges Ravennius to vindicate that judgment; and Ravennius is to report regularly on his progress so that Leo can evaluate his performance. The closing request — “inform us often of your actions’ progress, as, mindful of our judgment, we always wish to glory in your advancement in the Lord” — makes Leo’s continuing attention the governing criterion of Ravennius’s success. The Arles metropolitan is enrolled in Rome’s solicitude just as Anastasius of Thessalonica was in Letters V and VI.

The letter is dated August 22, 449 — the day Ephesus II was likely concluding. The juxtaposition of this pastoral, almost affectionate letter to a new Gallic bishop with the catastrophe playing out simultaneously in Asia Minor is one of the corpus’s most telling contrasts. The universal solicitude of the Apostolic See does not contract in a crisis; it continues to discharge all its obligations simultaneously, East and West, emergency and routine.