Pope Leo I

Pope Leo I (c. 391 – 10 November 461) was Bishop of Rome from 29 September 440 until his death on 10 November 461. He is the first of the three Popes listed in the Annuario Pontificio with the title "the Great", alongside Popes Gregory I and Nicholas I.

• Because Satan knows that he seduced the first man through a woman and led all human beings away from the bliss of paradise thanks to the credulity of women, he continues to pursue your sex with even greater cunning.
  • Sermons, 24,6

• Saint Leo the Great (like other Fathers of the Church) goes so far as to call the two holy Apostles, with a wonderful image, the eyes of the mystical body, of which Christ is the head (Serm. LXXXII, chap. 7 – Migne, P. L., t. 54, col. 427). Bright and splendid eyes, paternal and merciful eyes, kind and watchful eyes, eyes that follow our spiritual journey, eyes that look down to encourage and animate, and up to intercede and implore grace for those who are still weary from the dangerous and harsh storm of life.
  • San Leone Magno (come altri Padri della Chiesa) arriva a chiamare i due santi Apostoli, con immagine stupenda, gli occhi del corpo mistico, di cui capo è Cristo (Serm. LXXXII, cap. 7 – Migne, P. L., t. 54, col. 427). Occhi fulgidi e splendidi, occhi paterni e misericordiosi, occhi benigni e vigili, occhi che seguono il nostro cammino spirituale, occhi che si rivolgono in basso per incoraggiare e animare, in alto per intercedere e implorare grazia a chi è ancora affaticato dalla procella pericolosa e dura della vita.
    • Pope Pius XII, General Audience of June 28, 1939. As quoted in La devozione ai santi Pietro e Paolo, Radio Spada (June 20, 2021)

• Leo I approached the Vandal [Genseric] with the same composure and majesty with which he had approached Attila a few years earlier. His mediation was not as successful, but once again he managed to avoid the worst.
  • Leone I si fece incontro al Vandalo [Genserico] con la stessa compostezza e maestà con cui pochi anni prima si era fatto incontro a Attila. La sua mediazione non ebbe altrettanto successo, ma anche stavolta riuscì a evitare il peggio.
    • Indro Montanelli, Roberto Gervaso, Storia d'Italia, L'Italia dei secoli bui, Rizzzoli, Milano, 1968, Ch. 11; pp. 142-143.

• Among these [coubcils], I wish above all to follow and imitate the one whom we know to have been the author of the Council of Chalcedon, and who, in accordance with his name, clearly showed himself to be a member of that lion [Pope Leo I] who came forth from the tribe of Judah, with his lively solicitude and faith.
  • Pope Pelagius I, from the encyclical letter Vas electionis, 444. As quoted in Peter Hünermann (editor), Heinrich Denzinger, Enchiridion Symbolorum.