By defending against invaders, challenging heresies, and leading his flock as the Bishop of Rome, my patron saint, Leo, rightly deserves the honor of being the first Pope to be called, “The Great.”
Orthodox icon of Saint Leo.
Leo was born in Tuscany, Italy, part of the Western Roman Empire, around 400 AD. By 431, he had been tonsured as a deacon in Rome and his zealousness for the Church was known outside the city. About the same time, Western Roman Emperor Valentinian III sent Leo to settle a dispute between Aetius, a military commander of Roman forces in Gaul, and Albinus, a consul.
While in Gaul in 440, Pope Sixtus III died and Leo was elected to succeed him. During his reign, Leo defended against Dioscorus of Alexandria and Eutyches who believed in the Monophysite heresy that Christ was fully divine, but not fully man. In 451, the Great Bishop called the Fourth Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon to condemn the heretics. The council concluded with the anathematization and excommunication of the heretical Dioscorus, Bishop of Alexandria, and the monk Eutyches. The next year, Leo persuaded Attila the Hun and his army to refrain from attacking the ancient city of Rome. In 455, Gaiseric, leader of the Vandal tribe, agreed to Leo’s requests not to kill civilians or raze the city. While Gaiseric kept mostly to the agreement, he did take some citizens as slaves during the sack. In addition to these diplomatic feats, Leo also wrote 96 sermons and 143 letters, of which the best known is his “Epistle to Saint Flavin.”
The meeting between Pope Leo and Attila the Hun.
Leo reposed in peace in 461 after serving his flock for 21 years. He is venerated in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican Churches, with his Orthodox Feast Day being celebrated on February 18.
Without the guidance of Saint Leo, the Huns and Vandals could have destroyed the entire city of Rome and the Monophysite heresy could have continued to corrupt the Church for many years. Pope Leo was a truly deserving diplomatic defender of the Christian faith. As he said, “Virtue is nothing without temptation, for there is no conflict without an enemy, no victory without strife.”
About: On December 1, 1640, John IV of Portugal declared his country’s independence from Spain.
Belem Tower in Lisbon, Portugal
Qatar (Asia)
Qatar flag
Capital: Doha
Population: 2.7 Million
Size: 4,471 sq. miles
Currency: Qatari riyal
Tallest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 338 feet tall
Main religion: Islam 67.7%
Main languages: Arabic and English
About: On September 1, 1971, Qatar declared its independence from the British Empire.
Dallah Qatar monument in Doha, Qatar
Romania (Europe)
Romanian flag
Capital: Bucharest
Population: 19.3 Million
Size: 92,046 sq. miles
Currency: Romanian Leu
Tallest point: Moldoveanu Peak 8,346 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 92.3%
Main languages: Romanian, Albanian, Amerian, Bulgarian, and Croatian
About: In 1989, after the Berlin Wall fell, Romania became independent from the Soviet Union.
Peles castle in Sinaia, Romania
Russia (Europe)
Russian flag
Capital: Moscow
Population: 146.7 Million
Size: 6,612,073 sq. miles
Currency: Russian Ruble
Tallest point: Mount Elbrus 15,554 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 73%
Main languages: Russian, English, German, French, and Turkish
About: In 1991, the Soviet Union was dissolved and the Russian Federation was formed.
Red Square in Moscow, Russia
Rwanda (Africa)
Rwanda flag
Capital: Kigali
Population: 12.3 Million
Size: 10,169 sq. miles
Currency: Rwandan Franc
Tallest point: Mount Karisimbi 14,787 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 93.2%
Main languages: English, French, Kinyarwanda, and Swahili
About: On July 1, 1962, Rwanda became independent from Belgium. It was formerly part of the Belgian Congo.
Mount Kibuye, Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis (North America)
Saint Kitts and Nevis flag
Capital: Basseterre
Population: 52,441
Size: 101 sq. miles
Currency: East Carribean Dollar
Tallest point: Mount Liamuiga 3,792 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 94.6%
Main languages: English
About: On September 19, 1983, Saint Kitts and Nevis became independent from Great Britain.
Brimstone Hill Fortress in Middle Island Parish, Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia (North America)
Saint Lucia flag
Capital: Castries
Population: 184,751
Size: 238 sq. miles
Currency: East Carribean Dollar
Tallest point: Mount Gimie 3,145 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 90.4%
Main languages: English and Saint Lucian Creole French
About: Saint Lucia gained full independence from Britain on February 22, 1979.
The Pittons, Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (North America)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines flag
Capital: Kingstown
Population: 110,211 people
Size: 150 sq. miles
Currency: East Carribean Dollar
Tallest point: La Soufriere 4,049 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 82.1%
Main languages: English and Vincentian Creole
About: On October 27, 1979, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines became independent from Great Britain.
Fort Charlotte in Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa (Australia and the Pacific)
Samoa flag
Capital: Apia
Population: 202,506
Size: 1,079 sq. miles
Currency: Tala
Tallest point: Mount Silisili 6,069 feet tall
Main religion: Christianity 100%
Main languages: Samoan and English
About: On June 1, 1962, Samoa became independent from New Zealand.
Sopoaga Falls on Savai’i, Island, Samoa
San Marino (Europe)
San Marino flag
Capital: San Marino
Population: 34,232
Size: 23 sq. miles
Currency: Euro
Tallest point: Monte Titano 2,425 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 97%
Main languages: Italian and Emilian-Romagnol
About: San Marino became an independent city-state in 301 AD. Since then it’s been independent.
Landscape of San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe (Africa)
Sao Tome and Principe flag
Capital: Sao Tome
Population: 211,028
Size: 386 sq. miles
Currency: Dobra
Tallest point: Pico de Sao Tome 6,640 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 82.2%
Main languages: Portuguese, Forro, Angolar, and Principense
About: On July 12, 1975, Sao Tome and Principe became independent from Portugal.
Pico de Sao Tome
Saudi Arabia (Asia)
Saudi Arabia flag
Capital: Riyadh
Population: 34.2 Million
Size: 830,000 sq. miles
Currency: Saudi Riyal
Tallest point: Jabal Sawda 10,279 feet tall
Main religion: Islam 100%
Main languages: Arabic
About: After WW1 and the breakup of the Ottoman Empire, Saudi Arabia was formed in 1932.
The Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Senegal (Africa)
Senegal flag
Capital: Dakar
Population: 15.8 Million
Size: 75,951 sq. miles
Currency: WAF Franc (Western African Franc)
Tallest point: Unnamed Location 2,126 feet tall
Main religion: Islam 95%
Main languages: French and Wolof
About: On April 4, 1960, Senegal became independent from France. Four months later on August 20, 1960, Senegal withdrew from the Mali Federation, and became completely independent.
Gorre Island, Senegal
Serbia (Europe)
Serbian flag
Capital: Belgrade
Population: 6.9 Million
Size: 29,913 sq. miles
Currency: Serbian Dinar
Tallest point: Midzor 8,720 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 90.6%
Main languages: Serbian, Hungarian, Bosnian, Albanian, and Croatian
About: In 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell, Serbia became independent. It gained full independence after the Yugoslav wars in 2006.
Saint Sava Cathedral in Belgrade, Serbia
Seychelles (Africa)
Seychelles flag
Capital: Victoria
Population: 98,462
Size: 177 sq. mile
Currency: Seychellois Rupee
Tallest point: Morne Seychelles 2,969 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 89.2%
Main languages: English, French, and Seychellois Creole
About: On June 29, 1976, Seychelles became independent from Great Britain.
Unity monument in Victoria, Seychelles
Sierra Leone (Africa)
Sierra Leone flag
Capital: Freetown
Population: 8 Million
Size: 27,700 sq. miles
Currency: Leone
Tallest point: Mount Bintumani 6,381 feet tall
Main religion: Islam 78%
Main languages: English and Krio
About: On April 19, 1961, Sierra Leone became independent from Great Britain.
Freetown, Sierra Leone
Singapore (Asia)
Singapore flag
Capital: Singapore
Population: 5.7 Million
Size: 281.2 sq. miles
Currency: Singapore Dollar
Tallest point: Bukit Timah Hill 537 feet tall
Main religion: Buddhism 33.2%
Main languages: Malay, English, Mandarin, and Tamil
About: On June 3, 1959, Singapore became independent from Great Britain but was still part of Malaysia. On August 9, 1965, Singapore became independent from Malaysia.
Gardens by the bay, Singapore
Slovakia (Europe)
Slovakian flag
Capital: Bratislava
Population: 5.4 Million
Size: 18,933 sq. miles
Currency: Euro
Tallest point: Gerlachovsky stit 8,711 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 85.9%
Main languages: Slovak
About: When the Berlin wall fell and the dissolution of the Soviet Union was happening, Slovakia became independent on January 1, 1993. It was formerly known as Czechaslovakia.
Bojnice castle in Bojnice, Slovakia
Slovenia (Europe)
Slovenia flag
Capital: Ljubljana
Population: 2.1 Million
Size: 7,827 sq. miles
Currency: Euro
Tallest point: Triglav 9,395 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 77.8%
Main languages: Slovene, Italian, and Hungarian
About: On June 25, 1991, Slovenia became separate from the rest of Yugoslavia.
Bled Island tower in Bled, Slovenia
Solomon Islands (Australia and the Pacific)
Solomon Islands flag
Capital: Honiara
Population: 652,857
Size: 11,000 sq. miles
Currency: Solomon Islands Dollar
Tallest point: Mount Popomanaseu 7,661 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 97.4%
Main languages: English
About: On July 7, 1978, the Solomon Islands became independent from Great Britain.
King Solomon Hotel in Honiara, Solomon Islands
Somalia (Africa)
Somalia flag
Capital: Mogadishu
Population: 15.8 Million
Size: 246,201 sq. miles
Currency: Somali Shilling
Tallest point: Mount Shimbiris 8,071 feet tall
Main religion: Islam 100%
Main languages: Somali, Arabic, English, and Italian
About: During WW2 Italy invaded Ethiopia and Somalia and conquered it. After the war Great Britain kept Somalia as its own until its independence on July 1, 1960.
Hadful mosque in Mogadishu, Somalia
South Africa (Africa)
South Africa flag
Capital: Pretoria, Capetown, and Bloemfontein
Population: 59.6 Million
Size: 471,445 sq. miles
Currency: South African Rand
Tallest point: Mafadi 11,306 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 78%
Main languages: English, isiZulu, isiXhosa, Afrikaans, and Sepedi
About: In 1910, South Africa was unified into the Union of South Africa. In 1934, it gained independence from Great Britain, but the British monarch was still the head of the state. On May 31, 1961, it gained full independence from Britain.
Capetown, South Africa
South Sudan (Africa)
South Sudan flag
Capital: Juba
Population: 12.7 Million
Size: 239,285 sq. miles
Currency: South Sudanese Pound
Tallest point: Kinyeti 10,456 feet tall
Main religion: Christain 60.5%
Main languages: English, Arabic, Otuho, Acholi, and Dinka
About: On July 9, 2011, after a civil war, South Sudan gained independence from Sudan.
