Letter CXIX, from Pope Leo to Bishop Maximus of Antioch

Leo, bishop, to Maximus, Bishop of Antioch, through Marianus the presbyter and Olympius the deacon. Chapter I: The Catholic Faith Holds the Middle Path Between Nestorianism and Eutychianism Your letters — delivered by our sons Marianus the presbyter and Olympius the deacon — show how the sacred unity of the common faith and the tranquil […]

Letter CVI, from Pope Leo to Bishop Anatolius of Constantinople

Leo, bishop, to Anatolius, bishop. Chapter I: Leo Praises Anatolius’s Recovery From Disorderly Beginnings but Reproves His Ambition With the light of evangelical truth disclosed, as We had hoped, through God’s grace, and the universal Church freed from the night of most pernicious error, We rejoice beyond all telling in the Lord that the labor […]

Letter CV, from Pope Leo to Empress Pulcheria

Leo, bishop, to Pulcheria Augusta. Chapter I: Leo Rejoices That Both Those Who Stood Firm and Those Who Were Led Astray Have Overcome the Enemy We rejoice beyond all telling in the holy and God-pleasing efforts of your clemency — defending the Catholic faith against heretics and restoring peace to the universal Church. We give […]

Letter CIV, from Pope Leo to Emperor Marcian

Leo, bishop, to Marcian Augustus. Chapter I: Leo Rejoices in the Victory of the Faith and the Utility of Error in the Church The joys of the entire Catholic Church multiplied beyond telling through God’s great mercy — its most pernicious error extinguished through the holy and glorious zeal of your clemency. With your principate’s […]

Letter XCVIII, from the Chalcedon Synod to Pope Leo

The holy, great, and universal Synod, gathered by the grace of God and the sanction of our most pious and Christ-loving emperors in Chalcedon, metropolis of the province of Bithynia, to the most holy and most blessed Leo, Archbishop of the Romans. Chapter I: The Synod Declares Leo Established as the Interpreter of the Voice […]

Letter LXXVII, from Empress Pulcheria to Archbishop Leo

To Leo, most reverend bishop of the Church of the glorious city of Rome — Pulcheria, most venerable Augusta. Anatolius Has Subscribed to the Tome; A Synod to Be Held with Leo as the Authority; Flavian Buried in the Basilica of the Apostles; Exiled Bishops Recalled [Editorial note:] Sacred letters were sent by Pulcheria of […]

Letter LXXIII, from Emperors Valentinian and Marcian to Archbishop Leo

Valentinian and Marcian, glorious victors and triumphators, ever Augusti — to Leo, most reverend archbishop of the glorious city of Rome. Valentinian and Marcian Announce Their Accession and Request Leo’s Leadership for a Synod to Ensure Catholic Peace We have come to this supreme empire by God’s providence and the election of the most excellent […]

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 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 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 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 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 […]