Leo’s Reply to the Bishops of Arles

Leo the pope to his dearly beloved brothers Constantinus, Armentarius, Audentius, Severianus, Valerianus, Ursus, Stephanus, Nectarius, Constantius, Maximus, Asclepius, Theodorus, Justus, Ingenuus, Augustalis, Superventor, Ynantius, Fonteius and Palladius. [a]

When we read your letter, beloved, which our sons Petronius the presbyter and Regulus the deacon brought to us, we recognized how affectionate is the regard in which you hold our brother and fellow bishop Ravennius. For your request is that what his predecessor deservedly lost for his excessive presumption may be given back to him. But your petition, brothers, was forestalled by the bishop of Vienne, who sent a letter and delegates with the complaint that the bishop of Arles had unlawfully claimed the ordination of the bishop of Vasa. We had to show respect both for the canons of the fathers and for your good opinion of us, so that in the matter of the churches’ privileges we would allow nothing to be infringed or taken away. So it was our duty to keep the peace within the province of Vienne by using a just moderation that would disregard neither ancient usage nor your wishes. [b]

After considering the arguments put forward by the clergy present from each side, we find that the cities of Vienne and Arles in your province have always been so famous that, in certain matters of church privilege, first one and then the other has taken precedence in turn, though the tradition of the people there is that in former times they shared their rights in common. So we do not allow the city of Vienne to be left wholly without honor as far as church jurisdiction is concerned, especially since it already has the authority of our decree for the enjoyment of its privilege: namely, the power which, when it was taken away from Hilary, we thought it right to confer on the bishop of Vienne. And so that he may not seem to be suddenly and unduly lowered, he will govern the four neighboring towns, that is, Valence, Tarentaise, Geneva and Grenoble, with Vienne itself as the fifth; the care of all these churches will belong to its bishop. But the other churches of the same province will be placed under the authority and management of the bishop of Arles. We believe that, in his temperate moderation, he will be so eager for love and peace that he will by no means consider himself deprived of what he sees granted to his brother. Dated the 5th of May, in the consulship of Valentinian Augustus, for the seventh time, and of the most famous Avienus (in the year 450). [c]