Author Bio: Pope Leo I held the papacy from 440 to 461. Little is known about his life prior to his election to the papacy. He is best known for strengthening the papal office, which earned him the title "The Father of the Papacy." He was also the first Pope to be called "The Great."
Date/Context: In the Early Middle Ages, the Catholic Church struggled to maintain unity in doctrine with the Church in the East. The Authority of the Pope as supreme leader of the Catholic Church was disputed members of the Church in the East. This document re-declares the role of the Pope first cited in the Gospel of Matthew.
Summary: The Petrine Theory reaffirms Jesus' declaration of the Papacy. Pope Leo I explains that Jesus Christ gave authority to all the Apostles, but made St. Peter the head of all the Apostles. He then goes on to condemns any group of people who separates themselves from the papacy. He continues by saying the successors of the Apostles, the Bishops, have the duty to care for the Churches. However, the successor of Peter, the Pope, is the head of the Churches in the whole world.
Key Quotation: “In my humble person he [Peter] should be seen and honored who has the care over all the shepherds and the sheep committed to him, and whose dignity is not lacking in me, his heir, although I am unworthy (217).”
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ReplyDeleteJeremy, you make a number of very good points. You underline the clash for religious supremacy between Rome and the Constantinople during this era, (440- 461) that led to this statement. Your author bio also provided key information about Pope Leo's impact on the Catholic Church (and by extension the modern world). Lastly, you do an excellent job of highlighting that Pope Leo's affirmation as Peter's successor makes him the head of the Church.
ReplyDeleteSome points to consider:
You could directly include the biblical verse, (Matthew 16:18) which Leo uses to affirm papal supremacy.
You could have included that anyone who is not directly with St. Peter (insinuating Constantinople) has no share of God's divine blessing.
The big picture: How does the Petrine theory immediately affect the preceding centuries (no separation of Church and State).
Good work! The Petrine Theory is the basis for papal supremacy and a seminal document in the history of the West. It is important to note that Leo reigned at the end of the Roman empire (Rome is sacked by the Germans in 476 - shortly after Leo's death). We must also remember that the church is seeking to maintain relevancy even while the political and cultural institutions of the Eastern and Western Roman empires diverge.
ReplyDeleteAnother quote to consider: "It is reasonable and just that the holy Roman church, through St. Peter, the prince of the apostles, is the head of all churches of the whole world."