This week, the Church celebrated the feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, founders of the Church in Rome. The celebration was preceded by the feast of St. Irenaeus of Lyon—an early and important witness to the primacy of the Roman church—and followed by the commemoration of its first martyrs. It seems fitting, therefore, to reflect on this moment through the words of one of Rome’s greatest Latin theologians: Pope St. Leo the Great (440–461).
Fr. Reginald Foster, the legendary papal Latinist and beloved mentor of many at VSI, once remarked that if he were ever elected Pope, he would take the name Leo XIV—in honor of both St. Leo the Great and Pope Leo XIII (1878–1903), himself a renowned Latinist.
Beyond his theological writings, Leo’s most enduring visible legacy is the Basilica of St. Mary Major on the Esquiline Hill. While originally constructed under Pope Sixtus III, Leo—then a deacon—likely played a key role in the design of the basilica’s stunning mosaics. As one stands in the nave and looks up at the glistening apse and triumphal arch, it’s astonishing to recall that the Western Roman Empire was on the verge of collapse. Only 15 years after Leo’s death, the last Western Roman emperor would be deposed.
Despite the turbulent times, Leo’s writings reflect a deeply theological—not political—focus, as befits a bishop. Yet within his praise of Rome’s spiritual legacy, we can sense a clear awareness of the failing political order. In one of his most beautiful sermons, preached for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Leo offers a vision of Rome not as a fading empire but as a spiritual capital, newly founded by the Apostles for an eternal mission.
Below is an excerpt from that sermon, offered first in Latin, then in English:
Omnium quidem sanctarum solemnitatum, dilectissimi, totus mundus est particeps, et unius fidei pietas exigit ut quidquid pro salute universorum gestum recolitur, communibus ubique gaudiis celebretur. Verumtamen hodierna festivitas, praeter illam reverentiam quam toto terrarum orbe promeruit, speciali et propria nostrae urbis exsultatione veneranda est: ut ubi praecipuorum apostolorum glorificatus est exitus, ibi in die martyrii eorum sit laetitiae principatus. Isti enim sunt viri per quos tibi Evangelium Christi, Roma, resplenduit; et quae eras magistra erroris, facta es discipula veritatis. Isti sunt sancti patres tui verique pastores, qui te regnis coelestibus inserendam multo melius multoque felicius condiderunt, quam illi quorum studio prima moenium tuorum fundamenta locata sunt: ex quibus is qui tibi nomen dedit fraterna te caede foedavit. Isti sunt qui te ad hanc gloriam provexerunt, ut gens sancta, populus electus, civitas sacerdotalis et regia, per sacram beati Petri sedem caput orbis effecta, latius praesideres religione divina quam dominatione terrena. Quamvis enim multis aucta victoriis jus imperii tui terra marique protuleris, minus tamen est quod tibi bellicus labor subdidit quam quod pax Christiana subjecit.
Translation
The whole world, dearly-beloved, does indeed take part in all the holy solemnities, and devotion to the one Faith demands that whatever is remembered as something done for the salvation of all should be celebrated everywhere with common rejoicing. Nonetheless, today’s festivity, apart from that reverence which it has gained in all the world, is to be honoured with special and particular exultation in our city, so that where the death of the chief Apostles was glorified, there also may the predominance of gladness. For these are the men, through whom Christ’s gospel shone upon you, o Rome, and through whom you, who were the teacher of error, became the disciple of the Truth. These are your holy fathers and true shepherds, who founded you so that you might be added among the heavenly kingdoms, and that, in a much better and happier way than did those men, by whose zeal the first foundations of your walls were laid (i.e. Romulus and Remus): of whom the one that gave you your name defiled you with his brother’s murder. These are they who promoted you to such glory, that being made a holy nation, a chosen people, a priestly and royal state, and the head of the world through the blessed Peter’s holy See, you attained a broader sway by divine religion than in earthly government. For although you were increased by many victories, and extended the authority of your rule on land and sea, nevertheless, what your toil in war subdued is less than what the peace of Christ has conquered.
Leo’s sermon calls Rome a “holy nation, a chosen people, a priestly and royal state”, whose true dominion is not through military conquest but through the peace of Christ. Though the empire extended its reach by land and sea, Leo asserts that it was the Gospel—preached by Peter and Paul—that gave Rome its greater, eternal authority.
