There have been several Popes named Leo throughout history, each with distinct contributions to the Catholic Church. Here’s an overview of the most notable ones:
Pope Leo I (Leo the Great) – Reigned 440–461
Pope Leo I, also known as Leo the Great, served as Bishop of Rome from 440 until his death in 461. He is renowned for his theological writings and for persuading Attila the Hun to turn back from his invasion of Italy in 452. His “Tome of Leo” was instrumental in the Council of Chalcedon (451), which defined the dual nature of Christ as both human and divine. Leo I was the first pope to be called “the Great” and was declared a Doctor of the Church.
Pope Leo IX – Reigned 1049–1054
Pope Leo IX, born Bruno of Egisheim-Dagsburg in 1002, led the Church from 1049 to 1054. He is noted for initiating reforms to combat simony and enforce clerical celibacy. His papacy is marked by efforts to assert papal authority over the Church, which contributed to the events leading to the Great Schism of 1054, dividing the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches.
Pope Leo X – Reigned 1513–1521
Pope Leo X, born Giovanni di Lorenzo de’ Medici in 1475, was pope from 1513 until his death in 1521. A member of the influential Medici family, he was a patron of the arts and played a significant role during the Renaissance. His papacy is often associated with the beginning of the Protestant Reformation; he excommunicated Martin Luther in 1521 following the Ninety-Five Theses. Leo X’s lavish spending depleted the papal treasury, and his sale of indulgences was a key factor in the Reformation.
Pope Leo XIV – Elected 2025
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in 1955 in Chicago, USA, was elected pope on May 8, 2025. He is the first American-born pope and holds dual U.S. and Peruvian citizenship. Before his papacy, he served as a missionary and bishop in Peru and was appointed a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023. Known for his dedication to social justice and humility, Pope Leo XIV formally assumed his role as Bishop of Rome by taking possession of the St. John Lateran Basilica on May 25, 2025.
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