Leo II was a Sicilian-born prelate who served as the Bishop of Rome from 682 until his death in 683. A member of the Byzantine Papacy, he was recognized by contemporaries for his legal fairness and extensive learning. During his brief tenure, he focused on upholding the decisions of the Sixth Ecumenical Council and managing ecclesiastical relationships with both the Byzantine Empire and local authorities in Italy.
Life and ministry
Born in Sicily, Leo was a skilled preacher with an interest in music and a reputation for assisting the impoverished. After his election, he worked to implement the decrees of the Third Council of Constantinople, communicating these rulings to Western leaders and nobility. He also successfully defended the authority of the Roman see against the archbishops of Ravenna.
Ecclesiastical work
Leo contributed to liturgical traditions by reforming Gregorian Chant and composing sacred hymns. To protect holy remains from Lombard raids, he moved various martyr relics from catacombs into churches within the city walls, including sites he dedicated to St. Paul and the martyrs Sebastian and George. He also abolished a long-standing tax required for receiving the pallium.
Veneration
He is recognized as a saint and is included in the Roman Martyrology. His feast day is observed on 3 July. While he was initially buried in his own monument, his remains were later moved to a tomb shared with four other popes who bore the name Leo.