Sermon 82 on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul

What it is

This is a sermon delivered by Pope Leo I around 441, on the feast day of the apostles Peter and Paul. It was likely preached in Rome and survives as part of his collected sermons.

Why it matters

In this sermon, Leo argues that Rome's true greatness comes not from its founders but from the apostles Peter and Paul, who brought Christianity to the city. This idea helped justify the growing authority of the bishop of Rome, the papacy, over the wider Church. It reveals how Leo used preaching to build the religious and political standing of his own office.

Look closer

• Why might Leo want to connect Rome's identity to the apostles rather than to its ancient founders?
• What does this sermon suggest about the relationship between religious authority and the city of Rome?
• Who would have heard this sermon, and how might that have shaped Leo's message?