Letter XXXI, from Pope Leo to Empress Pulcheria
Leo, bishop, to Empress Pulcheria Augusta. Chapter I: Leo Urges Pulcheria’s Zeal Against Eutyches We have often proven by many examples how great a protection the Lord has prepared for His Church through Your Clemency. Whatever priestly zeal has achieved against those who have assailed Catholic truth in our times redounds chiefly to your glory […]
Letter XXX, from Pope Leo to Empress Pulcheria
Leo, bishop, to Pulcheria, Empress. Chapter I: Eutyches Has Erred Against the Truth of Christ’s Human Nature; His Error Must Be Removed Before It Spreads The Church of God has great cause for confidence in the faith of Your Clemency, proven so many times and by so many examples: taught by the Holy Spirit, you […]
Letter XXIX, from Pope Leo to Emperor Theodosius
Leo, bishop of the Catholic Church of the city of Rome, to the most religious and pious emperor Theodosius. The solicitude of Your Clemency, moved by the inspiration of God’s Spirit, shows how divine providence deigns to govern human affairs — desiring that nothing unpeaceful or divergent exist in the Catholic Church, since faith, being […]
Letter XXVIII, to Flavian, Bishop of Constantinople – The Tome of Leo
Leo, bishop, to the most beloved brother Flavian, bishop of Constantinople. Chapter I: Eutyches’s Ignorance of Scripture Led Him into Heresy Having read your beloved’s letters, which We marvel arrived so late, and having reviewed the account of the episcopal proceedings, We have at last come to understand the scandal against the integrity of the […]
Letter XXVII, from Pope Leo to Flavian, Bishop of Constantinople
Leo, to Flavian, bishop of Constantinople. We confirm that your beloved’s letters reached Us as soon as We found the opportunity through the arrival of Our honorable son Rodanus, informing Us of the cause stirred by perverse error in your region. It grieves Us that one once considered to be of religious purpose holds beliefs […]
Letter XXV, from Peter Chrysologus to Eutyches
Peter, bishop, to the most beloved and deservedly honorable son Eutyches, presbyter. Chapter I: The Truth of the Incarnation Was Long Settled Against All Errors; It Must Be Received with Honor and Fear, Not Debated I read your sorrowful letters with sadness and reviewed your mournful writings with appropriate grief — for just as the […]
Letter XXIV, from Pope Leo to Emperor Theodosius
Leo, bishop, to Theodosius Augustus. Chapter I: The Emperor’s Praise; Eutyches’s Complaint to the Apostolic See From the letters which your clemency has sent to Us, the Lord’s provision for His Church through your faith shines forth; and We rejoice that you possess not only royal but truly priestly zeal. Beyond the imperial and public […]
Letter XXIII, from Pope Leo to Flavian, Bishop of Constantinople
Leo, bishop, to the most beloved brother Flavian. Chapter I: Flavian’s Silence Is Reproved; Flavian Should Have Reported to Rome First The most Christian and clement emperor, zealous for the peace of the Catholic Church with holy and praiseworthy faith, sent us letters about the disturbances that have arisen among you. We marvel that your […]
Letter XXI, from Eutyches to Pope Leo
Eutyches, presbyter, to Leo, bishop of the city of Rome. Chapter I: Eutyches Invokes Your Holiness; His Condemnation by the Synod of Constantinople Trusting in my hope and faith in our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, I call first upon God the Word as witness to my convictions, and then invoke Your Holiness […]
Letter XX, from Pope Leo to Eutyches, Presbyter of Constantinople
Leo, bishop, to the most beloved son Eutyches, presbyter. Your beloved’s letter has made clear to Us that the Nestorian heresy is attempting to revive itself again through certain persons’ efforts. We commend the solicitude with which you have attended to this matter — for your words bear witness to the zeal of your heart […]
Letter XIX, from Pope Leo to Dorus, Bishop of Beneventum
Leo, bishop, to the most beloved brother Dorus. Chapter I: Dorus Is Reproved for Disrupting the Order of the Presbyterate We grieve that the judgment We had hoped for from you has been frustrated, as We perceive you to have committed acts that culpably corrupt the rule of ecclesiastical sanctions with novelty. You know well […]
Letter XVIII, from Pope Leo to Januarius, Bishop of Aquileia
Leo, bishop of the city of Rome, to Januarius, bishop of Aquileia. Reading the letters of your brotherhood, We recognized the vigor of your faith, known to Us before now, and We rejoice that you vigilantly expend your pastoral care on the flock of Christ, guarding against wolves who enter in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 7:15), […]
Letter XVII, from Pope Leo to the Bishops Throughout Sicily
Leo, bishop, to all the bishops established throughout Sicily. A Perpetual Decree Forbidding Bishops to Alienate Church Property; Violators to Lose Rank and Communion Specific complaints provoke Our general and provident care, moving Us to forbid by a perpetual decree what was done unjustly and wrongfully in two churches of your province. The clergy of […]
Letter XVI, from Pope Leo to the Bishops Throughout Sicily
Leo, bishop, to all the bishops established throughout Sicily, greetings in the Lord. Divine precepts and apostolic admonitions urge Us to watch over the state of all the Churches with tireless zeal, and where anything merits reproof, to apply the necessary correction and instruct you with the clearest truth. For since the command of the […]
Letter XV, from Pope Leo to Turribius, Bishop of Astorga
Leo, bishop, to Turribius, bishop, greetings. How laudably you are moved for the truth of the Catholic faith, and how carefully you expend your pastoral office’s devotion to the Lord’s flock — your brotherhood’s writings, delivered to us by your deacon, have fully shown Us, revealing to Our notice what you have taken care to […]
Letter XIV, from Pope Leo to Anastasius, Bishop of Thessalonica
Leo, bishop of the city of Rome, to Anastasius, bishop of Thessalonica. How great the things entrusted to your brotherhood by the authority of the most blessed Apostle Peter, and how many also committed to you by Our own favor — if you were truly to weigh these with right reason and just judgment, we […]
Letter XIII, from Pope Leo to the Metropolitan Bishops of Illyricum
Leo, to the most beloved brothers Senecio, Carosus, Theodulus, Lucus, Antiochus, and Vigilantius, metropolitans established throughout the provinces of Illyricum. Chapter I: Leo’s Solicitude for the Churches; The Illyrian Churches Belong to the Care of Anastasius We receive with a grateful heart the testimony of your letters that Our writings — sent out of solicitude […]
Letter XII, from Pope Leo to the Bishops of Mauretania Caesariensis
Leo, bishop of Rome, to all the bishops constituted throughout Mauretania Caesariensis, greetings in the Lord. Chapter I: Illicit Ordinations Through Tumult; Leo’s Solicitude Owed by Divine Institution Repeated reports brought to Us by travelers, attesting that illicit ordinations have been usurped among you, have compelled Our duty of piety to investigate the truth — […]
Letter XI, from Emperors Theodosius and Valentinian III to Aetius
Emperors Theodosius and Valentinian, Augusti, to Aetius, illustrious man, count, master of both armies, and patrician. The Primacy of the Apostolic See Is Confirmed; The Sentence Against Hilary Was Valid Without Imperial Backing It is certain that the sole defense of Our empire and Our rule lies in the favor of the supernal Divinity, to […]
Letter X, from Pope Leo to the Bishops of the Province of Vienne
Leo, bishop of Rome, to the most beloved brothers, all the bishops established throughout the province of Vienne. Chapter I: The Church Is Built on Peter’s Rock; Whoever Attempts to Infringe Its Power Acts with Impious Presumption Our Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, so established the observance of the divine religion that […]
