In the traditional Roman calendar, on April 11 we celebrate the feast of Pope St Leo I, “the Great” (d 461). Leo has had several feast days over the centuries. Once upon a time he was celebrated on June 28, which was the day that his relics were moved, or translated, to the Vatican Basilica. It is hard to overestimate Leo’s importance in the history of the Church. Not only did he somehow single-handedly convince Attila the Hun not to invade Italy when there was no army to stand in his way, Leo also strengthened the role of the Bishop of Rome and emphasised his universal jurisdiction as Peter’s Successor over the Church. He ratified the teachings of the Council of Chalcedon (451), which clarified that Christ had two perfect natures, divine and human; that he is consubstantial with both the Father and with us; and he left us glorious Latin sermons and letters whose style influenced even liturgical prayer to our own day. He truly deserves the nickname “the Great”. Speaking of “Great”, there are a few other figures in the Western Church who have been given this prestigious title. For example, another Successor of Peter, Gregory I (d 604), who did so much to codify the liturgical worship of the Church and who, of course, sent missionaries to evangelise pagan England. It was he who used the title “Servus Servorum Dei ... the Servant of the Servants of God” which popes continued to employ to this day. We have a great many of his sermons, commentaries on books of the Bible, and 854 of his letters. Another “Great” Pope is Nicholas I (d 867), who defended the sacramental nature of matrimony even by excommunicating bishops who had caved in to Lothair of Lorrain after he divorced his wife to marry his concubine. He also refused to recognise a Patriarch of Constantinople who had been imposed by Emperor Michael III (“the Drunkard”), who in turn had threatened to invade Rome and depose Nicholas. The German mystic St Gertrude von Helfta (d c1302) was given the title “the Great” by Benedict XVI in part to distinguish her from another Gertrude, but mostly to emphasise the excellence of her spiritual writings, which include Herald of Divine Love and Spiritual Exercises. Today many say that St John Paul II should be called “the Great”. Time will tell.