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 […]
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 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 […]
Letter XVI, from Pope Symmachus to Caesarius, Bishop of Arles
Symmachus to the most beloved brother Caesarius. Chapter I: Symmachus Confirms the Privileges of the Church of Arles and Grants Caesarius Vicariate Authority over the Gallican and Hispanic Regions, Reserving Matters of Higher Difficulty to the Apostolic See He who guards the venerable statutes of the fathers shows himself a friend of religion in its […]
Letter XIV, from Pope Symmachus to the Bishops of Gaul
Symmachus to the most beloved brothers, all the bishops established throughout Gaul. Chapter I: The Apostolic See’s Established Institutions Urge Roman Solicitude for the Universal Church; Caesarius Has Appeared at the Threshold of the Church of the Blessed Apostle Peter Seeking Renewal of Privileges The established institutions of the Apostolic See urge Us to proclaim […]
Letter XIII, from Pope Symmachus to the Bishops of Illyricum, Dardania, and the Two Dacias
Symmachus to the most beloved brothers, all the bishops, presbyters, deacons, archimandrites, and the whole order and people throughout Illyricum, Dardania, and the two Dacias. Chapter I: The Time for Speech, Not Silence; The Bishops Are Reminded of What They Themselves Teach We desire that this be done in full, if what We write is […]
Letter XII, from the Eastern Bishops to Pope Symmachus
The Eastern Church to Symmachus, Bishop of Rome. Chapter I: Christ the Good Shepherd Seeks the Lost Sheep; The Chair of the Prince of the Apostles Christ Entrusted to Your Beatitude That good Lord and lover of mankind, our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of His kindness toward us bowed the heavens and descended to […]
Letter XV, from Pope Symmachus to Caesarius, Bishop of Arles
Symmachus to the most beloved brother Caesarius. Chapter Headings (As Preserved in the Hispanic Collection) Introduction: Caesarius’s Petition Asks That Established Canons Be Reaffirmed by the Apostolic See The fairness of your petition urges Us to consent gladly to the desire of Your Brotherhood, because in each particular you petition that this be granted by […]
Letter IV, from Pope Symmachus to Avitus, Bishop of Vienne
To Our most beloved brother Avitus, Symmachus. Chapter I: The Annulment Did Not Prejudice Avitus’s Right; He May Present His Case 1. Your charity ought not to have been offended by the fact that We recently wrote in response to Our brother and fellow bishop Aeonius. No prejudice was made to Your right, most beloved […]
Letter III, from Pope Symmachus to Aeonius, Bishop of Arles
To Our most beloved brother Aeonius, Symmachus. Chapter I: The Vienne Dispute Has Arisen Because Anastasius II’s Ruling Departed from the Older Discipline 1. We have received the letters and directives of Your beloved, brought by Our son Crescentius the presbyter, the intermediary messenger, from which it is established that some struggle has arisen between […]
Letter II, from Pope Symmachus to Aeonius, Bishop of Arles
To Our most beloved brother Aeonius, Symmachus. Chapter I: The Vienne Bishop Obtained a Ruling From Anastasius II by Stealth Procurement; The Case Is to Be Reheard at Rome 1. The report of Your beloved has indeed moved Us, in that it has declared: namely that, contrary to the rules of ecclesiastical order and against […]
Decrees of Pope Hilarius
Decrees of Pope Hilarius. Decree of Pope Hilarius According to Gratian, Which Is Not Placed Among the Earlier [Decretals]: Each Receives the Whole Body of Christ in Similar Portions Each person receives the whole body of Christ in similar portions. Where a part of the body is, there also is the whole. The same principle […]
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 […]
