To the holy lord, most blessed father, and pope most worthy of the Apostolic See, Leo — Ceretius, Salonius, and Veranus.
Chapter I: Thanks for the Tome; Its Doctrine Celebrated Throughout All the Churches; The Primacy of the Apostolic See Established Where the Apostolic Spirit’s Oracles Still Resound
Having reviewed the letter of your beatitude — written for the instruction of the faith and sent to the bishop of Constantinople — we judged it fitting, enriched by such abundant doctrine, to render due thanks through the offered service of our letters. Confirming your paternal solicitude’s piety toward us, we confess ourselves more indebted to your anticipatory care — since we learned the benefits of the remedies before experiencing the evils. For knowing that remedies applied to wounds already inflicted are nearly too late, you admonish us beforehand with the voices of providential piety, that we be armed with apostolic defenses.
We clearly recognize, most blessed pope, with what special affection you have conveyed to us the depths of your heart, aiding others’ salvation through their healing. While purging from others’ hearts the poisons infused by the ancient serpent, you stand as though on a watchtower of charity — proclaiming with apostolic care and solicitude that the unforeseen enemy not approach the unwary, nor careless security offer the entry of a wound, holy lord, most blessed father, and pope most worthy of the Apostolic See.
We are filled with great and ineffable joy at your special favor: that the distinguished page of your doctrine is so celebrated in all the assemblies of the churches that the harmonious judgment of all is truly declared — affirming with full justice that the primacy of the Apostolic See is there established, from whence the oracles of the apostolic spirit still resound.
Chapter II: The Bishops Request a Corrected Copy of the Tome
Therefore, if you deign to admit it, we beseech that your holiness review the work — useful for present and future times — which we took care to transcribe for preservation, and correct any error of the scribe; or, if you have enhanced this salutary page for all readers with some addition of your zeal, command it be added to this booklet with solicitous piety. So that not only many holy brother bishops in Gaul, but also many of your lay sons — who greatly desire this letter for the manifestation of the truth — may merit to transcribe, read, and keep it, returned to us and corrected by your holy hand. If you deem it worthy, we desire those we have sent to return soon — so that, as your safety is our joy and salvation, the glad tidings of your health may swiftly return to us with the desired report.
Another hand: May Christ our Lord preserve your memorable crown with long life, holy lord, most blessed father, and pope most worthy of the Apostolic See. Ceretius, your devoted servant, greets your apostolate, commending myself to your prayers. Salonius, your venerator, greets your apostolate in the Lord, seeking the support of your prayers. Veranus, the devotee of your apostolate, greets your beatitude and begs your prayers for me.
Footnotes
- ↩ The honorific apostolica sede dignissimo — “most worthy of the Apostolic See” — appears three times in this letter: in the salutation, in the body of Chapter I, and in the closing. Its repetition is deliberate. The bishops are not using it as a formulaic courtesy but as a substantive description: Leo is worthy of the See he holds, and the See is the institutional reality that gives his letter its universal authority. The honorific connects directly to the primacy statement that follows in Chapter I.
- ↩ Merito illic principatum sedis apostolicae constitutum, unde adhuc apostolici spiritus oracula reserentur — “that deservedly there the primacy of the Apostolic See has been established, from whence the oracles of the apostolic spirit still resound.” Several features of this sentence deserve careful attention. First, “constitutum” — established, constituted — is the language of a fixed institutional foundation, not of an honor conferred by collegial recognition. The primacy has been established at Rome; the bishops are acknowledging a fait accompli, not bestowing a title. Second, “illic” — “there” — locates the primacy at Rome specifically, not distributed among the sees or residing in councils. Third, the rationale given is not imperial favor, not conciliar decree, not Sardica’s canons — it is that the apostolic spirit’s oracles “still resound” from Rome. The Apostolic See is the living source of apostolic teaching, not merely the historically first see. Fourth, this is said not by Leo but by Gallic bishops, writing independently, as a description of what they have just experienced: Leo’s doctrinal letter being celebrated throughout all the churches’ assemblies confirms for them that Rome is where it has always been — the fixed institutional source of the faith. The reader who holds the “first among equals” interpretation is invited to consider whether “constitutum” — established — and “illic” — there, at Rome, specifically — can sustain that reading. A primacy of honor among equals is not something that can be said to be “established” at a particular place; it is a rotating function of collegial consensus. What these bishops describe is a permanent institutional reality, not a procedural role.
Historical Commentary