7 history-changing Pope Leos
2. Pope Leo III (750-816)
A native of Rome who would be canonized as a saint in the 17th century, Pope Leo III would reign as head of the Catholic Church from 795 to 816.
Pope Leo III is most known for his support of Frankish King Charlemagne, who he would crown emperor of the Romans on Christmas Day 800, effectively instituting the Holy Roman Empire.
“In this choice to crown Charlemagne as the new emperor, Leo set a legal precedent that the pontiff was the only individual with the necessary authority to crown the Western emperors,” according to Pope History.
“Leo III did manage to divide the East and the West permanently with this decision to back a rival to the eastern emperors. It would contribute to the split between the Catholic and Orthodox churches centuries later as well. The rift was never entirely healed.”
