Editing Pope Leo I (section)

===Heir of Peter===
Leo assumed the papacy at a time of increasing barbarian invasions; this, coupled with the decreasing imperial authority in the West, forced the Bishop of Rome to take a more active part in civil and political affairs. He was one of the first bishops of Rome to promote papal primacy based on succession from [[Saint Peter|Peter the Apostle]]; and he did so as a means of maintaining unity among the churches.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://zenit.org/articles/pope-leo-the-great-defended-the-primacy-of-rome/ |title="Pope: Leo the Great Defended the Primacy of Rome", ''Zenit'', March 5, 2008 |access-date=September 16, 2017 |archive-date=September 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916205934/https://zenit.org/articles/pope-leo-the-great-defended-the-primacy-of-rome/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Besides recourse to biblical language, Leo also described his own special relationship with Peter in terms derived from Roman law. He called himself the (unworthy) heir and deputy (''vicarius'') of Peter, having received his apostolic authority and being obliged to follow his example. On the one hand, Peter stood before him with a claim on how Leo was to exercise his office; on the other hand, Leo, as the Roman bishop, represented the Apostle, whose authority he held. Christ, however, always comes out as the source of all grace and authority, and Leo is responsible to him for how he fulfilled his duties (sermon 1). Thus, the office of the Roman bishop was grounded on the special relationship between Christ and Peter, a relationship that cannot be repeated per se; therefore, Leo depended on Peter's mediation, his assistance and his example in order to be able to adequately fulfill his role and exercise his authority as the Bishop of Rome, both in the city and beyond.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}