THE POPES WHO USED LEO AS PAPAL NAME

POPE LEO I

ST. LEO THE GREAT

(29.IX.440 – 10.XI.461)

– Helped with the Definition of Christ’s Human and Divine Nature

– Persuaded Attila the Hun not to invade Rome

– Defended the Primacy of the Apostolic See

– 450th Pope of the Catholic Church

POPE LEO II

ST. LEO II

(17.VII.682 – 3.VII.683)

– Known as an eloquent and virtuous Pope

– Supported Against the heresy of Monothelitism

– 800th Pope of the Catholic Church

POPE LEO III

ST. LEO III

(26.XII.795 – 12.VIII.816)

– Protected Charlemagne from enemies; Crowned him Emperor

– Restored the Lateran Palace

– Spent 16 Years in Prison After Over 20 Years of Papacy

– 852nd Pope of the Catholic Church

POPE LEO IV

ST. LEO IV

(11.VIII.847 – 17.VII.855)

– Unanimously Chosen as Pope in the Basilica of St. Peter

– Repaired St. Peter, Basilica and St. Paul Outside the Walls

– Fortified the City of Rome

– 935th Pope of the Catholic Church

POPE LEO V

(VII.903 – IX.903)

– Was an Ardent and Devout Monk

– Appointed Pope at a Very Old Age

– Reigned for only 2 Months

– Deposed and Imprisoned by Christopher who usurped the Pope

– 1180th Pope of the Catholic Church

POPE LEO VI

(VIII.928 – XII.928)

– Exercised his Papacy in the Prime of his Youth

– Reigned only for 7 Months

– Born of Noble Family at Rome; Named Parish Priest of San Sisto before being made Pope

– 1236th Pope of the Catholic Church

POPE LEO VII

(I.936 – 13.VII.939)

– Benedictine Monk

– Reigned for 3 Years

– But was Poor Measured in everything

– Accepting

– 1238th Pope of the Catholic Church

POPE LEO VIII

(4.XI.963 – III.965)

– Pope from 963 to 964 and then again in 965

– During his First Term: He was forced to Flee Rome

– During his Second Term: He Excommunicated the Antipope

– 1315th Pope of the Catholic Church

POPE LEO IX

(2.II.1049 – 19.IV.1054)

– Reportedly had the Stigmata

– Played a Role in the Great East-West Schism

– Advocated for Celibate Priesthood

– Sent Legates to Constantinople

– 152nd Pope of the Catholic Church

POPE LEO X

(11.IV.1513 – 1.XII.1521)

– He was the first non-Cardinal to be elected pope at the age 37

– Led the War of Urbino that Cost the Papal States 800,000 Ducats

– Excommunicated Martin Luther; He is famously remembered for allegedly saying: “Since God has given us the Papacy, let us enjoy it”

– 217th Pope of the Catholic Church

POPE LEO XI

(1.IV.1605 – 27.IV.1605)

– Suffered a Fever and Died

– Reigned for only 27 Days

– Born Alessandro Ottaviano de’ Medici; He became Pope to Become Pope

– 232nd Pope of the Catholic Church

POPE LEO XII

(28.VIII.1823 – 10.IX.1829)

– In his youth, he Served as Papal Nuncio to Switzerland

– Very Conservative Pope

– Tried to Forbid Jews from living in Rome

– Imposed High Taxes in Papal States

– 252nd Pope of the Catholic Church

POPE LEO XIII

(20.II.1878 – 20.VII.1903)

– Served as Papal Nuncio to Belgium before becoming Pope

– Wrote the Encyclical Rerum Novarum which discussed Capital and Labor

– Strongly Promoted the Rosary and Scapular

– Composed the Saint Michael Prayer

– Served the Longest Papacy Ever: 25th Pope of the Catholic Church

POPE LEO XIV

(8.V.2025 – incumbent)

– First Pope Born in the United States of America

– Before becoming Pope, he was Bishop of Rome and Supreme Pontiff of USA

– Former Superior General of the Society of Jesus

– First Pope born after World War II

– Second pope from the Jesuit Order and the first to be born during or after the Cold War

– 267th Pope of the Catholic Church

Note for example the Papacy of St. Leo the Great (29.IX.440 – 10.XI.461) 29 and 10 are the Date, 440 and 461 are Year of the beginning and the end of the Papacy

Source: Catechists of St. Francis Xavier