Our site uses cookies to improve the user experience and we recommend accepting its use to take full advantage of the navigation

Master·evangeli.net

Today's Gospel + short theological explanation

November 10th: Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church
Download
Gospel text (Mt 16:13-19): When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God...”

St. Leo the Great, pope and doctor of the Church (+461)

EDITORIAL TEAM evangeli.net (based on texts by Benedict XVI) (Città del Vaticano, Vatican)

Today we celebrate the sanctity of one of the greatest pontiffs to have honored the Roman See. His pontificate lasted for more than 21 years and has been without any doubt one of the most important in the history of the Church. The times in which Pope Leo lived were very difficult: constant barbarian invasions, the gradual weakening of imperial authority in the West and the long, drawn-out social crisis forced the Bishop of Rome to play an important role in civil and political events.

We are familiar with Pope Leo's action thanks to his most beautiful sermons and thanks to his letters. Leo the Great was a tireless champion and upholder of the Roman Primacy, presenting himself as the Apostle Peter's authentic heir: the many Bishops who gathered at the Council of Chalcedon, the majority of whom came from the East, were well aware of this. This Council affirmed the union in the one Person of the Son of God of his two natures, human and divine, without confusion and without separation.

—The Pope asserted this faith in Jesus Christ, true God and true man, in an important doctrinal text addressed to the Bishop of Constantinople, the so-called “Tome to Flavian” which, read at Chalcedon, was received by the Bishops present with an eloquent acclamation. Information on it has been preserved in the proceedings of the Council: "Peter has spoken through the mouth of Leo", the Council Fathers announced in unison.