Letter IX, from Pope Leo to Dioscorus, Bishop of Alexandria
Leo, bishop, to Dioscorus, Bishop of Alexandria, greetings. The Roman Church Abides in Peter’s Institutions; Alexandria, Founded by Peter’s Disciple, Must Not Diverge How great an affection of charity in the Lord We bestow upon your beloved person you will be able to judge from this: that We desire to establish your beginnings more firmly, […]
Letter VII, from Pope Leo to the Bishops Throughout Italy
Leo, to all bishops established throughout the provinces of Italy, greeting in the Lord. I. Leo Discovers and Suppresses a Manichaean Community in Rome, and Reports His Actions to the Italian Episcopate We call you into the fellowship of Our solicitude, urging you to exercise vigilant pastoral care over the flocks entrusted to you, so […]
Letter VI, from Pope Leo to Anastasius, Bishop of Thessalonica
Leo to our most beloved brother Anastasius. I. Leo Explains the Purpose of Fraternal Correspondence and the Duty of Pastoral Vigilance The charity of our fraternal fellowship makes us receive all priests’ letters with a grateful heart, embracing through the grace of the Spirit those with whom we are united by mutual correspondence. Yet our […]
Letter V, from Pope Leo to the Metropolitan Bishops of Illyricum
Leo to the most beloved brother bishops established as metropolitans throughout Illyricum. I. Illicit Attempts Against the Canons Must Be Prudently Forestalled Before They Are Made Every salutary admonition that we believe comes with the Lord’s inspiration benefits both the one who gives it and the one who receives it — and so we undertake […]
Letter IV, from Pope Leo to the Bishops of Campania, Picenum, Etruria, and All Provinces
Leo, bishop of the city of Rome, to all bishops established throughout Campania, Picenum, Etruria, and all the provinces, greeting in the Lord. While the peaceable order of the Churches fills us with joy, we are deeply grieved whenever we learn of anything presumed or committed against the ordinances of the canons and the discipline […]
Letter III, from Paschasinus, Bishop of Lilybaeum, to Pope Leo
To the truly holy and most blessed Apostolic Lord, whom I revere above all others after God, Pope Leo — from Paschasinus, bishop. I. Paschasinus, Consulted by Leo on the Paschal Cycle, Reports Sicily’s Plight and Acknowledges the Command I received the writings of your Apostolic Office, delivered by Silanus, deacon of the Church of […]
Letter II, from Pope Leo to Septimus, Bishop of Altinum
Leo, bishop of the Apostolic See, to Septimus, bishop of Altinum, greeting. I. Pelagian Clergy Must Make a Full Public Profession Before Being Received Into Communion Having read your letter, dearest brother, we recognize the strength of your faith — which we knew before — and we rejoice that you are exercising pastoral vigilance to […]
Letter I, from Pope Leo to the Bishop of Aquileia
Leo, bishop of the Apostolic See, to the Bishop of Aquileia. I. Pelagian Clergy Have Been Wrongly Received Into Communion Without Recanting Their Error From the report of our holy brother and fellow bishop Septimus — contained in the letter he attached — we have learned that certain priests, deacons, and clergy of various ranks […]
Letter VI, Fifth Roman Synod of 6 November 502 (Constitutum on the Preservation of Church Property)
Acta of the Roman Synod held in the basilica of the blessed Apostle Peter on 6 November 502, presided by Pope Symmachus. With the venerable Pope Symmachus presiding, more than seventy Italian bishops were in attendance — among them Laurentius of Milan, Petrus of Ravenna, and Eulalius of Syracuse, whose names are preserved with the […]
Appendix to Letter XV: Libellus Petitorius of Caesarius, Bishop of Arles, to Pope Symmachus
To the most holy Pope Symmachus, Cesarius, bishop. Just as the episcopate begins with the person of the blessed Apostle Peter, so it is necessary that your holiness clearly show each church what they must observe with fitting disciplines. In the province of Gaul, some persons alienate ecclesiastical properties under various titles, diminishing resources devoted […]
Letter XI, from Pope Hilarius to the Bishops Judging Mamertus’s Case
Hilarus, bishop, to his most beloved brothers — Victurus, Ingenuus, Ydatius, Eustasius, Fonteius, Viventius, Eulalius, Veranus, Faustus, Auxanius, Proculus, Ausonius, Paulus, Memorialis, Coelestius, Projectus, Eutropius, Avitianus, Ursus, and Leontius. With Us most solicitous, and suspended in much expectation by those things which the recent and certain report had brought to Us, the letters of your […]
Letter X, from Pope Hilarius to the Bishops of Various Provinces of Gaul
Hilarus, bishop, to his most beloved brothers, the bishops of the provinces of Vienne, Lyons, Narbonensis Prima and Secunda, and the Pennine Alps. Although We remember that your brotherhood retains the things that have been established by Us, and does not conceal any of those things which We have written — namely that, for the […]
Letter IX, from Pope Hilarius to Leontius
Hilarus, bishop, to his most beloved brother Leontius. How Mamertus, bishop of Vienne, has in coming forward transgressed the constitutions of the Apostolic See and exceeded priestly moderation, We have learned from your charity’s report — and on hearing such things, We marveled, wondering how We might bring forward a fitting judgment according to the […]
Letter VIII, from Pope Hilarius to the Bishops of Various Provinces of Gaul
Hilarus, bishop, to his most beloved brothers, the bishops of the provinces of Vienne, Lyons, Narbonensis Prima and Secunda, and the Pennine Alps. Although the extent and character of the wrongs long committed in the churches of Narbonne and Béziers are not hidden from your charity, and the improbity of presumption which has come all […]
Letter VII, from Pope Hilarius to Leontius
Hilarus, pope, to his most beloved brother Leontius. We are astonished that your brotherhood is so forgetful of the Catholic law that, as to iniquitous things done contrary to the statutes of our Fathers in the province which belongs to your metropolitan authority, — if you yourself either will not or cannot act — you […]
Letter V, from Pope Hilarius to Leontius, Bishop of Arles
Hilarus, bishop, to his most beloved brother Leontius. How much reverence — in the Spirit of God, who indwells the priests subject to Him — is owed to the blessed Apostle Peter and to his See, I judge to be known to all who hold the incorrupt guardianship of paternal traditions. Since therefore We wish […]
Letter III, from Pope Hilarius to Ascanius, Bishop of Tarraconensis
Hilarus, bishop, to his most beloved brother Ascanius. We must be mindful of the divine grace which, through the mercy of its favor, raised Us to the summit of the priestly office for this purpose: that, adhering to its commands and established as watchmen of its priesthood, We may prohibit what is illicit and teach […]
Letter II, from Pope Hilarius to Ascanius and the Bishops of Tarraconensis
Hilarus, bishop, to Ascanius and all the bishops of the province of Tarraconensis. After We received the letters of your charity, in which you sought to curb the presumptions of Bishop Silvanus of the Church of Calaguris, and again asked that the wholly illicit desires of the people of Barcinona be confirmed: letters were also […]
Letter, from the Bishops of Tarraconensis to Pope Hilarius
To the most blessed lord, Pope Hilarus, worthy of apostolic reverence, honored by us in Christ: Ascanius and all the bishops of the province of Tarraconensis. Even if no necessity of ecclesiastical discipline compelled us, we would in truth have sought out that privilege of your See, by which — after the keys of the […]
Letter I, from Pope Hilarius to the Bishops of Tarraconensis – Synodal Decree
Hilarius, pope, to the bishops of Tarraconensis. Concerning the synodal decree. In the consulship of Flavius Basiliscus and Hermericus, most illustrious men. Chapter I: The Decrees of the Apostolic See, Like the Divine Constitutions, May Not Be Violated; The Fault for Transgressions Falls on the Chief Priest Since the devout assembly, gathered by the Holy […]
