00:00In the 5th century, as the Western Roman Empire weakened, Leo the Great assumed a responsibility that went beyond
00:08the walls of the churches.
00:10Having become pope in 440, he had to guide a worried population, support the poor and preserve communion between communities
00:19marked by violent controversies.
00:21His first battle concerns the Christian faith. How can we understand that Jesus is truly God and truly man?
00:30In a letter addressed to Flavius of Constantinople, Leo expresses this conviction with great clarity.
00:38His teaching contributed to the debate at the Council of Chalcedon in 451, which affirmed the unity of the person of Christ.
00:46in its two natures, divine and human.
00:50For Leon, this question directly concerns salvation. God truly enters human existence without ceasing to be God.
01:00The following year, he met Attila with a Roman delegation in northern Italy.
01:06This is therefore not a pope confronting an army alone, but a courageous diplomatic move.
01:13The withdrawal of the Huns left a lasting mark on people's memories.
01:18In 455, Leo intervened again when the vandals of John Ceric arrived in Rome.
01:25He cannot prevent the looting, but seeks to limit the violence and protect the inhabitants.
01:32His sermons also show a pastor attentive to ordinary life.
01:36He invites Christians to recognize their dignity, to practice almsgiving, and not to separate religious celebrations.
01:44assistance provided to vulnerable people.
01:48Having died in 461, Leo received the title of the great and was recognized as a doctor of the Church.
01:56His memory is celebrated on November 10th.
01:58His journey reminds us that a strong faith does not exempt us from thinking or negotiating.
02:06On the contrary, it can give the strength to seek a way out when fear and violence seem to dictate the outcome.
02:13All.
