POPE LEO TOOK ON ATTILA THE HUN, AND WON

The very first pope to take the name "Leo", was on the throne of Peter for 21 years, from the year 440 to 461. 

When Leo began his rule, Rome was in decline, the population had drastically decreased, people were fleeing, meaning less taxes, and fewer soldiers to defend the Eternal City. This would not have been so bad, except that Attila the Hun King had invaded Italy. 

Attila had earned the title, "Scourge of God". He had laid siege to Aquileia for three years before sacking it, plundering it, and burning it to the ground; reducing it to rubble. His motive was marriage, he wanted to get the goods together so he could wed Princess Honoria. Attila looked like a beast in a beard, and Honoria had a large, pointy nose, but together they could have been a major power couple.

So, next Attila planned to lay waste to Rome and loot it. He and his troops were planning to cross the River Po, when they met Pope Leo who was of slight build, with a wreath of white hair and had just had 12 exhausting years leading the Church. 

With inspired eloquence, Pope Leo persuaded the terrorist to turn back. Later Attila had to admit that he'd seen heavenly visitor dressed like a priest stationed at Leo’s side who held a drawn sword and made as though he would kill Attila if he came one inch further. Perhaps this was St Michael the Archangel.

I’m into all things archangels these days because I’m drafting the book on Archangel Raphael, and I'm hoping to authenticate if it was St Michael who put the fear of God into Attila and made him retreat. It would have been absolutely humiliating for Attila to abandon his plan to ransack Rome, and I hold only one such as Holy Michael could have made him and his troops desist. 

 Pope Saint Leo the First's feast is celebrated on April 11 because his remains were transferred to the Basilica of Saint Peter on this date. Have a wonderful feast of Leo!