and that his faith is prayed for specially, '• tanquam alio- runi status certior sit futurus, si mens princijiis victa non fuerit.'' After identifying the Church with the incar- nation of Christ, Leo identities Peter witli Christ. This primacy of Peter continues, therefore, for while the faith of Peter is retained, all the privileges attached to this faith in Peter remain also. This primacy continues among the i'ollowers of Peter, for they hold the same re- lation towards Peter that Peter held towards Christ; as Christ was in Peter, so is Peter in his successors; it is still Peter who, through them, fulfils the commaiul of Christ, ''Feed my sheep I" — '• Christus tantam potentiam dedit ei, quem totius ecclesiaj principem fecit, ut si quid etiam nostris temporibus recte per nos agitur recteque disponitur, illius operibus, Lllius sit gubernaculis depu- tandum, cui dictum est : Et tu conversus confirma fratres tuos" {Sermon, iv, 4). While affecting the utmost hu~ mility when speaking of himself personally as unwor- thy' of his high oflSce, he speaks of that olfice itself as the most exalted station.
It was more difficult for Leo, however, to prove that the bishop oi Rome is the successor of St. Peter. liome, says Leo, has been glorified by the death of the two greatest apostles, Peter and Paul, who brought the Gos- pel to the Eternal City; and Leo claims to discover a special Providence in this coming of Peter to Pijine, so that that city should through him and in him become the centre of the Christian world. " Ut hujus enarra- bilis gratia3 (incarnationis) per totum mundum dift'un- deretur effectus, Eomanum regnum divina providentia prieparavit; cujus ad eos liraites mcrementa perducta sunt, quibus cunctarum undique gentium viciiia et con- tigua esset universitas. Disposito namquc divinitus operi maxime congruebat, ut multa regna uno confwde- rarentur imperio et cito pervios haberet populos pr^di- catio generalis, quos unius teneret regimen civitatis" {Serm. Ixxxii, 2 ). Here, finding dogmatical arguments unavailable for his purpose, Leo turns to history, which he arranges to suit himself. With regard now to the relation existing between the bishop of Rome and the other bishops, Leo says expressly, "All the bishops have indeed the same office, but not the same power. For even among the apostles, although they were all called apostles, there existed a remarkable distinction, for one only, Peter, held the first rank. From this results the difference among the bishops. It is a fundamental law of the Church that all have not the equal right to ex- press all things, but that in each province tliore is one (the bishop of the principal place in the pro\-ince) who has the first voice among his brethren. Again, those who occupy more important sees (the metropolitans of dioceses) have still greater power. But the direction of the whole Church is the care of the chair of St. Peter, and no one can take anything awa\' from him who is the head of all." Potent but unconscious instruments in forwarding Leo's ambitious schemes were found in the barbarian chiefs whose power was not yet consolidated, and who were eager to propitiate one who possessed such weight with the priesthood, and through them could either calm into submission or excite to rebellion an ignorant and fanatic multitude. But, though the minds of men were in some degree prepared and dis- posed to yield to such domination, it ^vas scarcely to be expected that the effort should not provoke jealousy and resistance. A strong opposition was speedily organized both in the West and in the East, and soon assumed the attitude of open defiance. • In the West the contest was brought to an issue by the controversy with Hilary of Aries (see Hilakhts Auiii-VTENsis) concernini; the dep- osition of Clielidonius, liishop of Vesoutio (Besan(;,on), who had married a widow, which was forbidden by the canons. Chelidonius appealed to Leo, who reinstated him in his sec. Hilary was summoned to K<ime upon several charges brought against liim by other bishops of Gaul, to whom his severity was obnoxious ; and Leo obtained a rescrijit from the emperor YalentinLin III susiiending Hilary from his episcopal office. This sus-
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