Primary sourceLetter445
Letter 9 to Dioscorus of Alexandria
Pope Leo I · 445
A letter written by Pope Leo I to the Bishop of Alexandria urging unity between Rome and Alexandria based on Peter's authority.
Written by Leo himself, this letter shows him asserting Rome's authority over the Alexandrian church.
About this source
What it is
This is a letter written in 445 by Pope Leo I to Dioscorus, Bishop of Alexandria.
Why it matters
In it Leo argues that the churches of Rome and Alexandria should follow the same practices because Mark, who founded the Alexandrian church, was a disciple of Peter, the Apostle from whom Rome claimed its authority. This is an early example of Leo asserting the primacy of the Roman church over others, a key idea in the history of the papacy.
Look closer
- What reason does Leo give for why Alexandria should follow Rome's example?
- Why might a bishop in one city want to claim authority over practices in another?
- What does this letter suggest about tensions between early Christian centres?
This letter is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Pope Leo I on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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