Leo the Great for Beginners

Leo the Great: The Pope Who Saved Rome When Attila the Hun threatened Rome in 452, one elderly bishop rode north to face him. That confrontation would change the papacy forever. Between 440 and 461, Pope Leo I transformed the papacy from an honorary position into the moral center of Western civilization. While emperors cowered and barbarian armies conquered, Leo negotiated with warlords, defined Christian doctrine, and built foundations that carried the Church through the Dark Ages. Witness Leo: Confronting Attila at the Mincio River in 452 Defining Christ's nature at the Council of Chalcedon in 451—"Peter has spoken through Leo!" Negotiating as Vandals sacked Rome in 455 Preaching hope to a traumatized population Establishing papal authority that endures today Drawing on Leo's own writings, council records, and contemporary chronicles, this book presents the brilliant theologian, skilled diplomat, and tireless pastor who understood what Rome meant—and saved it. Perfect for readers of ancient history, students of early Christianity, and anyone seeking to understand how the Catholic Church survived Rome's fall. Meet the man who saved Rome and defined the faith.