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 LVI, from Empress Galla Placidia to Emperor Theodosius
To the lord Theodosius, victorious and triumphant, ever Augustus and son — Galla Placidia, most pious and flourishing, ever Augusta and mother. Leo at Peter’s Altar, Weeping for the Faith, Surrounded by Bishops He Has Gathered Throughout Italy When upon entering the ancient city We had given Our veneration to the most blessed Apostle Peter, […]
Letter LV, from Emperor Valentinian to Emperor Theodosius
To the lord Theodosius, victorious and triumphant, ever Augustus and son — Valentinian, glorious, victorious and triumphant, the senior Augustus and father. Valentinian’s Visit to Rome and Leo’s Petition; The Bishop of Rome Holds the Primacy of the Priesthood Over All by Antiquity When We had come to the city of Rome to propitiate the […]
Letter LII, from Bishop Theodoret of Cyrrhus to Pope Leo
Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus, to Leo, Bishop of Rome. Chapter I: It Is Fitting That the Apostolic See Hold First Place in All Things; Peter and Paul’s Tombs Have Made It the Apex of All Good If Paul, the herald of the truth, the trumpet of the Holy Spirit, betook himself to the great Peter […]
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 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 […]
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 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 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 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 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 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 […]
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 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 […]
