Pope Leo II facts for kids

Pope Leo II was the leader of the Catholic Church and the Bishop of Rome from August 17, 682, until his death in June 683. He was born around 611 and lived to be about 71 or 72 years old. People at the time described him as fair and very smart. Today, he is remembered as a saint.

Early Life and Talents

Leo was born in Sicily, an island that was part of the Byzantine Empire back then. His father's name was Paul. Many people from Sicily, including church leaders, moved to Rome during this time. This was often because of attacks on Sicily by the Caliphate, a large Islamic empire.

Leo was known for being a great speaker and preacher. He also loved music. People remembered him for his kindness and how much he helped those who were poor.

Becoming Pope

After Pope Agatho passed away in January 681, Leo was chosen to be the next Pope very quickly. However, he wasn't officially made Pope until August 17, 682. This long wait was likely because of important talks happening between Pope Agatho and Emperor Constantine IV. They were discussing how much control the emperor had over choosing new Popes.

The emperor had promised to lower or even stop a special tax. This tax was paid by new Popes to the emperor when they officially took office. This tax had been in place for about 100 years.

What Pope Leo II Did

Pope Leo II was only Pope for a short time, but he still achieved some important things.

Confirming a Major Church Council

One of his most important actions was to confirm the decisions of the Sixth Ecumenical Council. This was a big meeting of church leaders held in Constantinople from 680 to 681. The council strongly spoke out against a belief called Monothelitism. This belief said that Jesus only had one will, a divine one, not a human one. The council decided this was incorrect.

After Leo confirmed these decisions, he made sure everyone in the Western Church knew about them. He sent letters to kings, bishops, and important people, explaining what the council had decided. He asked all bishops to agree with these new rules.

Addressing a Past Pope's Actions

During this council, a previous Pope, Pope Honorius I, was criticized. He was said to have tolerated Monothelitism. Pope Leo II worked hard to explain that Honorius was not condemned for teaching wrong ideas himself. Instead, he was criticized for not doing enough to stop the spread of Monothelitism.

Following Leo's instructions, another church meeting was held in Toledo, Spain, in 684. This meeting officially accepted the decisions of the Third Council of Constantinople.

Changes for the Church in Ravenna

Pope Leo II also helped to stop the leaders of the church in Ravenna from trying to become independent from the Pope in Rome. He also ended a special tax that they used to pay when they received a special cloth called the pallium, which showed their authority.

Helping Rome and Music

In response to attacks by the Lombards, a Germanic people, Pope Leo II moved the bones of some saints from underground burial places (called catacombs) to churches inside Rome's city walls. This was to keep them safe.

He also helped to improve Gregorian chant, which is a type of church music. He even wrote several sacred songs for church services.

His Death

Pope Leo II died on June 28, 683. He was followed by Pope Benedict II. He was first buried in his own special tomb. Later, his remains were moved to a tomb that held the first four Popes named Leo.

See also

In Spanish: León II (papa) para niños