Pope Leo IV facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pope Saint Leo IV |
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| Bishop of Rome | |
Contemporary fresco at San Clemente al Laterano
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| Church | Catholic Church |
| Papacy began | 10 April 847 |
| Papacy ended | 17 July 855 |
| Predecessor | Sergius II |
| Successor | Benedict III |
| Orders | |
| Created Cardinal | 844 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 790 Rome, Papal States |
| Died | 17 July 855 (aged 64–65) Rome, Papal States |
| Sainthood | |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Attributes |
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| Other Popes named Leo | |
Pope Leo IV (born 790, died July 17, 855) was a very important leader in the Catholic Church. He served as the Bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 847 until his death. Pope Leo IV is famous for fixing churches in Rome that were damaged. He also built a big wall, called the Leonine Wall, to protect Vatican Hill. Plus, he helped organize a group of Italian cities that won an important sea battle against invaders.
Contents
Early Life and Becoming Pope
Leo was born in Rome. He studied at a monastery near St. Peter's Basilica. He caught the attention of Pope Gregory IV, who gave him a special role. Later, Pope Sergius II made him a cardinal-priest.
In April 847, everyone agreed that Leo should become the next Pope. At this time, invaders called Saracens had attacked Rome. People were worried about the city's safety. So, Leo was made Pope on April 10, 847, without waiting for the emperor's approval.
Protecting Rome's Churches and Walls
After becoming Pope, Leo immediately started repairing the churches in Rome. These churches had been damaged during a big attack by the Saracens in 846. He restored and made beautiful again the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls and St. Peter's Basilica.
The altar at St. Peter's Basilica had its gold covering stolen. Pope Leo made sure it was replaced with a new one. This new gold covering weighed a lot and was decorated with many precious gems. After fixing the churches, Pope Leo asked other Christian kingdoms to help fight the Arab raiders.
Pope Leo also took steps to prevent future attacks. He repaired the city's walls very carefully. He completely rebuilt fifteen of the large towers. He was the first Pope to build a wall around Vatican Hill. This area, including St. Peter's Basilica, had been unprotected before.
Leo ordered a new line of walls to be built. These walls surrounded the area on the right bank of the Tiber River. This new protected district is still known as the Leonine City. It took him four years to finish this huge project. He received money from the emperor and help from many cities to build it.
The Battle of Ostia
In 849, a fleet of Saracen ships from Sardinia came close to Portus, a port near Rome. Pope Leo IV called upon several Italian cities with strong navies. These cities were Naples, Gaeta, and Amalfi. They joined together to form a powerful league.
The leader of this combined fleet was Cesarius, the son of Duke Sergius I of Naples. Aided by a powerful storm, the league completely destroyed the Saracen fleet. This happened off the coast of Ostia.
The Battle of Ostia is one of the most famous battles in the history of the Papacy during the Middle Ages. A famous painting by Raphael and his students celebrates this battle. You can see this painting in the Raphael Rooms inside the Vatican Palace.
Another famous painting by Raphael, called The Fire in the Borgo, shows a different event. Legend says that Pope Leo stopped a fire in a pilgrims' area just by making the sign of the cross.
Later Years and Legacy
Pope Leo IV held three important meetings, called synods. One of these meetings in 850 was attended by Emperor Louis II.
Before he died in 855, Pope Leo welcomed Aethelwulf, the King of Wessex, and his sons to Rome. One of his sons was Alfred the Great, who later became a very famous king. Alfred had already met Pope Leo in 853 when he was just five years old.
Pope Leo IV died on July 17, 855. He was followed by Benedict III. There is an old story that a woman named Pope Joan became Pope for two years after Leo IV. However, most experts today believe this story is not true.
Leo IV was first buried in his own special tomb in St. Peter's Basilica. Later, his remains were moved to a tomb with the first four popes named Leo. In the 1700s, the remains of Leo the Great were moved to their own chapel.
Pope Leo IV had the figure of a rooster placed on the old Old St. Peter's Basilica. This rooster has been a religious symbol and a reminder of Peter's denial of Christ ever since. Many churches today still have a cockerel on their steeple. It is said that Pope Gregory I believed the rooster was a perfect symbol for Christianity. After Leo IV, Pope Nicholas I, who Leo had trained, ordered that a rooster figure should be placed on every church.
See also
In Spanish: León IV (papa) para niños
