ral Synod, to come without delay, and clear himself of those things which are laid to his charge, before the Apostolic See of Rome, which is with us here; and to shew obedience, and to do honour to the Apostolical Holy Roman Church of God, by which the Church of Antioch must be directed and judged, as custom, derived from the Apostolic rule and Tradition, particularly requires.” Ibid. p. 642.—This is the language of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, proclaiming, before a General Council held in the East, the superior judicial Authority of the Bishop of Rome, over the Patriarch of Antioch.
ST. LEO THE GREAT.- In the General Council at Chalcedon, held in 451, the Legates of Pope Leo pronounced sentence against Dioscorus, Patriarch of Alexandria, in these words: “Wherefore the holy and most blessed Pope Leo, Head of the Universal Church, invested with the dignity of the Apostle Peter, who is named the foundation of the Church, and the rock of the Faith, and the keeper of the gate of the Kingdom of Heaven, hath, by us his Legates with the consent of the Holy Synod, stripped him (Dioscorus) of his Episcopal Dignity, and removed him from every sacerdotal function.” St. Leo Ep. ad. Episc. Galliæ. T. 1. Operum, p. 1143. Venetiis, 1753.- In this instance, Pope Leo exercised a high act of his Primacy, in the General Council of Chalcedon; when, in his name, and by his Authority, as Head of the Universal Church, and as invested with the dignity of Peter, sentence was pronounced against the second Patriarch of the Church, with the consent of the whole Synod, acknowledging this right and authority in the Bishop of Rome.
The above testimonies afford sufficient proof of the acknowledged exercise of the supreme jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome, over the Bishops and Patriarchs of the East, and many instances might he cited of the same in the West, were they necessary. This supreme jurisdiction was a jurisdiction derived from the Authority of the sacred
