A pope of the 7th century of Calabrian origin, Leo II was distinguished by his great erudition, his charity towards the poor, and his mastery of music. He confirmed the Sixth Ecumenical Council against Monothelitism and reformed ecclesiastical chant. Despite a short pontificate of ten months, he left his mark on the Church through his doctrinal firmness and apostolic zeal.
Guided reading
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SAINT LEO II, POPE
Election and origins
After a long vacancy of the Apostolic See marked by plague and political tensions, Leo II, the son of a physician born in Magna Graecia, was elected pope.
After the death of Pope Agatho, the Apostolic See remained vacant for one year, seven months, and five days. History does not tell us why it took so long to elect another pope in his place. Baronius believes that Theodore, Patriarch of Constantinople, induced the emperor to detain the legates during that time, in order to have the leisure to falsify the Acts of the Sixth General Council, which was then being held, and to have himself reinstated on the chair from which he had been deposed. It may be said that a horrible plague, which was preceded by two eclipses, one of the sun and the other of the moon, had caused such terror throughout Italy, and had put Rome in particular into such great consternation, that people did not dare to assemble there. Be that as it may, after Léon II Pope who ordained Sergius as a priest. this long vacancy, Leo II, a canon regular, son of Paul Menco, a physician, was elected in his place. He was born in Piano-di-San-Martino, near Reggio, in Magna Graecia (State of Naples). He was a very holy person, perfectly well-versed in the Holy Scriptures, equally learned and eloquent, and whose good examples led everyone to virtue. He took special care of the poor, the orphans, and the widows, and relieved their miseries with a truly apostolic charity. He confirmed the Sixth Ecumenica l Council, which Agatho ha sixième Concile œcuménique Council that condemned the Monothelite heresy. d assembled in Constantinople against the heretics called Monothelites, because th ey recognize Monothélites Christological heresy supported by Constans II. d only one will and one operation in Jesus Christ. And as he knew the Greek language as well as the Latin, he translated the Acts from Greek into Latin, to make them understandable to Westerners. He ordered that at Mass, peace should be given to all those present; that is to say, he made mandatory a ceremony that was already practiced out of devotion: for this pious custom has been observed since the first centuries of the Church, as it is easy to see in Saint Dionysius and Saint Justin. He also ordered that the Pallium, which the Sovereign Pontiffs sent to patriarchs and archbishops, as well as dispensations, privileges, and all ecclesiastical offices, should be granted gratis and without any interest. He had three churches built in Rome, near that of Saint Bibiana; one which he dedicated under the name of the Apostle Saint Paul and in which he had the bodies of Saints Simplicius, Faustus, and Beatrice deposited, along with several other relics; another in honor of Saint Sebastian; and finally the last in honor of Saint George.
Defense of the faith and liturgical reforms
Leo II confirms the Sixth Ecumenical Council against Monothelitism, translates its acts into Latin, and establishes the gratuitous nature of ecclesiastical acts as well as the rite of peace at Mass.
When he was raised to the sovereign pontificate, the plainc plain-chant Liturgical music reformed by Leo II. hant, which Saint Gregory the Great had composed and established in the Church, was in extreme confusion: this is why, as he had a perfect knowledge
Gregorian Chant and Roman Authority
An expert in music, he reformed plainchant and firmly opposed the aspirations for independence of the archbishops of Ravenna from the Holy See.
LIVES OF THE SAINTS. — Vol. VII.
27 knowledge of music, he reformed it and restored it to better order; he also composed some new hymns, which the Church has preserved to this day; he held an ordination, in which he created twenty-three bishops, nine priests, and three deacons. He showed his zeal and firmness wonderfully against the vain pretensions of the archbishops of Ravenna, who, su pported Ravenne Birthplace of the saint and site of his final mission. by the Exarchs, that is to say, the imperial governors whose city was their ordinary residence, did not want to recognize the authority of the Holy See nor submit to its commands: for, to repress this unbearable insolence, he made a decree by which he ordered that in the future no bishop of Ravenna could perform the functions of his office before having been confirmed by the Roman Pontiff. He also had it forbidden to celebrate the anniversary of Maurus, archbishop of the s ame Maur Monk of the monastery of Saint-Martin distinguished by Emeric for his purity. see, who died in excommunication.
End of life and legacy
Despite a short pontificate, he left the image of a charitable and learned pastor, often represented with a beggar or musical scores.
He was loved and respected by everyone, as much for his virtue as for his gentle, affable, and beneficent nature. In a word, he lacked none of the qualities required to make him one of the most excellent Popes to have governed the Church, although he held the see for only ten months and seventeen days. His death, which occurred on July 4, in the year of Jesus Christ 683, was regretted by all the faithful to whom, in a pontificate of such short duration, he had given great proofs of his zeal and piety. His body was interred in the church of Saint Peter, the ordinary tomb of the sovereign Pontiffs, on June 28, the day on which he is named in the Roman Martyrology.
A very pious Epistle is attributed to him which he wrote to Emperor Con stantine IV, Constantin IV Byzantine emperor and contemporary of Leo II. surnamed Pogonatus, where he praises him for the zeal he had shown and the care he had taken in the celebration of the General Council of which we have spoken. Cardinal Baronius believes that this Epistle is not his, nor are some others that are under his name.
Saint Leo is represented: 1st, embracing a beggar, in allusion to his charity toward the unfortunate; 2nd, sometimes holding a book in which musical notes can be read, because he is considered to have reformed ecclesiastical chant.
Acta Sanctorum. — Cf. Histoire des souverains Pontifes romains, by Artand de Monter.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Election after a vacancy of more than a year
- Confirmation of the Sixth Ecumenical Council of Constantinople
- Translation of the Acts of the Council from Greek into Latin
- Reform of Gregorian chant
- Suppression of the independence claims of the Archbishopric of Ravenna
- Burial at Saint Peter's on June 28
Quotes
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Studens moribus implere pontificatum, et ut sancti sanctorum devotæ servitutis impendas officium, induere sanctitatem.
Petr. Biesens. Epist. xv ad Episc. Carontens.