St. Leo the Great, Pope

St. Leo is titled the ‘great’ which means that he is regarded as one of the greatest Popes in the history of the Church. He is also a Doctor of the Church. He reigned as Pope between 440 and 461. His greatest contribution to Catholic doctrine was his affirmation of the Incarnation in a letter to the Patriarch of Constantinople. The doctrine of the incarnation refers to the union of the divine nature of the Son of God with human nature in the person of Jesus Christ. In the Eastern Churches the mystery of the Incarnation is commemorated by a special feast on December 26th. St. Leo is also renowned for meeting the Barbarian leader, Attila the Hun, at the gates of Rome, and persuading him not to sack the city.