Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church
Today is the feast day of Pope Leo the Great. Yesterday was the feast of the Lateran basilica, the pope's primary church and the mother church of Catholics throughout the world. Today we honor one of the greatest Popes in the history of the Church.
He is most commonly known for his dealings with Attila the Hun and the protection of the city of Rome. However, of even greater importance in Leo's papacy was his defense and protection of the faith of the Church. Leo, with great skill and care, helped the Church by defending and promoting the truth about the faith and correcting errors against the faith that cropped up in his time. He was a true shepherd and a saint. The papacy is a gift of God to the world as a source of unity and leadership for the Church in her mission - like Paul says in the first reading - to preach the Gospels to all nations.
Let us pray today in gratitude for the gift of the papacy and let us pray for the pope that he might always be a shepherd in the spirit of Pope St. Leo the great.