Bible Dictionaries
Leo the Great, Pope Saint

1910 New Catholic Dictionary

(Latin: leo, lion)

Doctor of the Church. Reigned from 440 to 461; died in Rome. A deacon, he was sent to Gaul as mediator by Emperor Valentinian III. Elected when the Western Empire was disintegrating and heresy rife, his chief aim was to sustain church unity. To gain this end he established the vicariates of Arles, as the center of the Gallican episcopacy; and Thessalonica, as the center of Eastern Illyria. He established closer relationships between distant episcopates and Rome, and had the primacy of the Bishop of Rome over the whole Church recognized in an edict of Emperor Valentinian, 445. He combated Pelagianism, Manichaeanism and Priscillianism; upheld the decision of the Patriarch of Constantinople against Eutyches by a dogmatic letter confirming the doctrine of the Incarnation. Later in the general council held at Chalcedon this epistle was accepted as an expression of Catholic Faith concerning the Person of Christ. He reformed Church discipline; built and restored churches; protected Rome from the Huns under Attila and the Vandals under Genseric. He left many sermons and epistles of great historical value. Feast, Roman Calendar, April 11,.

Bibliography Information
Entry for 'Leo the Great, Pope Saint'. 1910 New Catholic Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​ncd/​l/leo-the-great-pope-saint.html. 1910.