June 12 - Leo III

Perhaps one pope a month is enough; perhaps not. Leo stands out not just for his charity but because he crowned Charlemagne king, marking the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire.
We could discuss the merits of such a move, but not here. We could discuss his motives (which could be argued were justifiable), but not here.
Instead, let us look at what he means to us as a saint, not as a historical figure.
He took the money that Charlemagne gave him and used it to help the poor. He used his power as pope to practice forgiveness and removed the death sentence from people who attacked and maimed him.
While he may be both famous and infamous we remember to call on his intercession in times of need.

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Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us, that he has given us of his Spirit. Moreover, we have seen and testify that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world. Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God. We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.
God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.

-- 1 John 4:7-16