The election of Pope Leo XIV has sparked interest in his namesake predecessors, particularly Pope Leo XIII, who served a notable 25 years. This article examines the historical context of the eleven earlier Popes Leo, exploring their vastly differing reigns, successes, and failures. Pope Leo I, renowned for elevating the papacy's authority, established the significance of the Pope as Peter’s successor. The lessons learned from their legacies may guide Leo XIV in navigating contemporary challenges, emphasizing the impact of historical precedents on modern papal leadership.
Leo himself wrote that: "the care of the universal Church should converge towards Peter's one seat, and nothing anywhere should be separated from its Head" (Letter 14.12).
Pope Leo I was, frankly, a hard Pope Leo to follow. He was the catalyst for the transformation of the ordinary Bishop of Rome to the Pope with primacy over all other bishops.
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