Why Is Pope Leo Called The Great

While the Western Empire was fragile and on the verge of caving, when heresy was spreading and barbarian invasion continued to threaten all moral values, Pope Leo I remained strong and resolute as ever while defending the Church and the people of Rome. His courage and devotion to the faith earned him title of “the Great” only held by one other Pope, Pope Gregory I. The Church further honored Leo by granting him the title of Doctor due to his Christian Doctrine which is still used today in the lessons of the Catholic breviary. These achievements are only a few of the many accomplished by Pope Leo I, rendering him considerably worthy of his title as “the Great.” There is not much insight on Leo’s early life other than that he was born in Tuscany
(TFC) Although no one knows exactly what was said during their meeting, Attila submitted to Leo’s plea and the Roman People were saved from his wrath. Leo lived out his own teachings by his rational and peaceful actions. In his Sermon 84, he stated,“Do not make peace with avarice, and despise the rewards of unjust dealings. Refuse to make an accord with pride, and fear more to be raised up in glory than to be trampled on in humiliation. Restrain yourself from anger, and do not let the desire for vengeance inflame the resentment of ill will”. He radically lived out this teaching as he met with Attila in peace as opposed to
Through his papacy, the view of the Bishop of Rome changed into a character that was not only chief patriarch of the Church, but a figure who also held an unchallenged supremacy politically as well. Yet, throughout his ever growing success, he always maintained a humble spirit, never taking credit for the many victories he acquired in and outside of the Church. Instead he gave all the glory to God. “It is an act of devotion, therefore, to take joy in receiving the gift, even though one cannot help but tremble for lack of deserving it” Through his sermons which were written in a style known as rerum eloquentia. which would influence ecclesiastical language for centuries, he writes on many theological principles such as forgiveness and penance, which find there clearest and easily their most eloquent expression. (CHR) “There was not a single question, be it great or small, concerning the church, which he did not examine,and in which he did not try to impose a solution” (tcda