The See of Peter

The Early Church and Peter's Primacy

Letter LXIX, from Pope Leo to Emperor Theodosius

Leo, bishop, to Theodosius, ever Augustus. Chapter I: Leo Suspends Consent to Anatolius’s Ordination; The Catholic Profession Required; To Be Published to the Apostolic See Amid the solicitude we bear for the faith, all your piety’s letters have offered us great hope of security, commending the Nicene council — so that, as you often write, […]

Letter LXVIII, from Bishops Ceretius, Salonius, and Veranus to Pope Leo

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 […]

Letter LXVII, from Pope Leo to Bishop Ravennius of Arles

Leo, pope, to his most beloved brother Ravennius. Leo Sends Ravennius His Letter to Flavian and Commissions the Distribution of the Tome Throughout Gaul We long detained our sons Petronius, presbyter, and Regulus, deacon, in the City — as they merited this favor and the cause of the faith, now assailed by the error of […]

Letter LXVI, from Pope Leo to the Bishops of the Province of Arles

Leo, pope, to his most beloved brothers: Constantinus, Armentarius, Audientius, Severianus, Valerianus, Ursus, Stephanus, Nectarius, Constantius, Maximus, Asclepius, Theodorus, Justus Ingenuus, Augustalis, Superventor, Ynantius, Fonteius, Palladius. Chapter I: Both Petitions Heard; Justice Must Preserve the Privileges of Both Churches From reading the letters of your beloved, delivered by our sons the presbyter Petronius and the […]

Letter LXV, from the Bishops of the Province of Arles to Pope Leo

To the most blessed lord, Pope Leo: the prayers sent by all the comprovincial bishops of the metropolis of Arles. Chapter I: The Bishops Report Ravennius’s Election and Request the Restoration of Arles’s Ancient Privileges Mindful of how much honor and reverence is always due to the most blessed Apostolic See, over which our Lord […]

Letter LXI, from Pope Leo to Presbyters Martinus and Faustus

Leo, bishop, to Martinus and Faustus, presbyters and archimandrites. Chapter I: Leo Informs Martinus and Faustus of the Letters Sent to Them That God is the author of good works and spiritual zeal — rousing minds and aiding actions — is beyond doubt. This has appeared clearly to us in present experience. For amidst the […]

Letter XLV, from Pope Leo and the Roman Synod to Empress Pulcheria

Leo, bishop, and the holy Synod convened in the city of Rome, to Pulcheria Augusta. Chapter I: Leo Sends Copies of the Suppressed Letters; The Integrity of the Catholic Faith Must Not Be Violated If the letters directed to your piety for the cause of the faith through our clergy had reached you, it is […]

Letter XLIV, from Pope Leo and the Roman Synod to Emperor Theodosius

Leo, bishop, and the holy synod convened in the city of Rome, to Emperor Theodosius. Chapter I: The Ephesine Pseudo-Synod Favored Private Enmities and Disrupted the Church; Apostolic Letters Were Rejected; Actions Were Coerced; Hilarius Barely Escaped; The Synod Is Never to Be Accepted by the Apostolic See From your clemency’s letters, sent to the […]

Letter XLIII, from Pope Leo to Emperor Theodosius

Leo, bishop, to the most glorious and clement Emperor Theodosius. Chapter I: Leo Complains of the Ephesine Robbery From the beginning, in councils held, we have received such confidence from the blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles, that we have authority to defend the truth for our peace, so none may disturb it, fortified as […]

Letter XLII, from Pope Leo to Bishop Ravennius of Arles

Leo, bishop, to the most beloved brother Ravennius. Petronianus the Fraud Is to Be Expelled from All Churches’ Communion We desire you to be vigilant and solicitous, lest any blameworthy presumption claim what it may — gaining entry through false pretenses and then extending to greater temerity under the guise of a usurped dignity. Through […]

Letter XLI, from Pope Leo to Bishop Ravennius of Arles

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 […]

Letter XL, from Pope Leo to the Bishops of the Province of Arles

Leo, bishop, to the most beloved brothers Constantinus, Audentius, Rusticus, Auspicius, Nicetas, Nectarius, Florus, Asclepius, Justus, Augustalis, Ynantius, and Chrysaphius. Leo Confirms the Election of Ravennius with His Judgment We have just and reasonable cause for rejoicing when we learn of deeds by the Lord’s priests that accord with the rules of the Fathers’ canons […]

Letter XXXIX, from Pope Leo to Bishop Flavian of Constantinople

Leo, bishop, to Bishop Flavian. Leo’s Solicitude Grows at Flavian’s Silence; He Urges an Immediate Full Report Your prolonged silence increases our solicitude. We have long received no letters from your beloved, though, solicitous for the defense of the faith, we have frequently sent letters to you through suitable opportunities, to support you with the […]

Letter XXXVIII, from Pope Leo to Bishop Flavian of Constantinople

Leo to Bishop Flavian of Constantinople. Encouragement After the Legates’ Departure; The Letters Already Sent as Doctrinal Standard; Mercy for Those Who Repent After our representatives, sent to you for the cause of the faith, had already departed, we received the writings of your beloved through our son the deacon Basilius — who rightly provided […]

Letter XXXVII, from Pope Leo to Emperor Theodosius

Leo, bishop, to the most religious Emperor Theodosius. The Unity of Faith Must Be Preserved; Leo Sends Those Who Fulfill His Presence’s Role, for the Matter Admits No Doubt Having received Your Clemency’s letters, I perceive great cause for the universal Church to rejoice — that you wish the Christian faith, by which the divine […]

Letter XXXVI, from Pope Leo to Bishop Flavian of Constantinople

Leo, bishop, to the most beloved brother Flavian. The Legates Follow; The Matter Requires No Synodal Treatment I have received your beloved’s letters along with the acts completed among you concerning the question of the faith. And since the most clement emperor, solicitous for the Church’s peace, wished a synod to be convened — though […]

Letter XXXV, from Pope Leo to Bishop Julian of Cos

Note: Passages enclosed in [square brackets] are present in the Latin text of the PL but absent from the parallel Greek version of this letter. Leo, bishop of the city of Rome, to the most beloved brother Bishop Julian. Chapter I: Eutyches’s Error Destroys the Mysteries of Our Redemption Though we have already sent the […]

Letter XXXIV, from Pope Leo to Bishop Julian of Cos

Leo, bishop, to the most beloved brother Bishop Julian. Chapter I: Leo Grieves That Eutyches Has Made Himself Estranged from the Unity of Faith Your beloved’s recent letters, delivered to me, show how greatly we thrive with the spiritual love of the Catholic faith and how great is the joy of heart they give me […]

Letter XXXIII, from Pope Leo to the Second Synod of Ephesus

Leo, bishop, to the holy synod convened at Ephesus. Chapter I: The Emperor Brings to Bear the Authority of the Apostolic See; The Faith of the Incarnation Proven from Peter’s Confession The devout faith of the most clement emperor, knowing it to pertain principally to his glory that no seed of error should rise within […]

The See of Peter

The Early Church and Peter's Primacy