April 19th. Pope St. Leo IX.

He was born to a noble family in Alsace in 1002, and educated at Toul, where he was to become bishop at the very tender age of 25, in 1027. He was the pioneer of the so-called 'Gregorian Reform', which takes its name from one of his successors, St. Gregory VII [Hildebrand], Pope from 1073 to 1085, who served under Leo IX, learnt from him and refined his policies. The purpose of the Gregorian Reform was not only to revive the Church within, improving standards of education and mission and eliminating corruption, but also to achieve a proper division between the responsibilities of Church and state.

It was ironical that Leo, who instigated these policies, actually rose to prominence through the 'old system' (St. Thomas Becket is a parallel who springs to mind). He was chosen as Pope by the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry III, who then "invited" the Roman clergy and people to acclaim him. Leo commanded an army, which, it must be admitted, was not always used prudently: an escapade against the Norman invaders of Southern Italy earned the rebuke of St. Peter Damian that emperors, not Popes, should be the fighters of battles.

Leo was a vigorous reformer and many heads rolled in his zealous attack on clerical 'irregularities'. Several bishops were deposed (though in most cases they received their see back again, have been provided symbolically with a new crozier to represent a new start). Leo's last days were marred by the development of the great dispute which drove the Eastern Churches out of communion with Rome, though he died shortly before the actual breach. On a happier note, he was friendly with St. Edward the Confessor of England, and approved of his plan to refound Westminster Abbey.