The Holy See and the Wandering of the Nations, from St. Leo I to St. Gregory I

"The Holy See and the Wandering of the Nations, from St. Leo I to St. Gregory I" by Thomas W. Allies is a historical exploration of the Catholic Church during a period of dramatic change. It spotlights the challenges and changes that the Papacy had, from the time of St. Leo I to St. Gregory I, especially focusing on the problems created by invading northern tribes. The book examines the rise of the Holy See’s power as the Roman Empire in the West begins to fall. The book starts by highlighting the importance of the letters from each Pope as key ways to understand the situations within their time. It presents St. Leo as working hard to protect the Church’s power during major political problems, such as negotiating with leaders such as Attila the Hun. It presents how the Papacy becomes a new central point of strength as the Western Roman Empire crumbles. Allies sets the stage for an examination of how the Church sought to unite different peoples and cultures while society was falling apart.