Pope St. Leo II, who served briefly as pontiff from 682 to 683, was a Sicilian by birth and the son of a man named Paul. Although elected shortly after the death of Pope St. Agatho on January 10, 681, Leo’s formal consecration was delayed until August 17, 682—over a year and a half later. This lengthy postponement likely stemmed from ongoing negotiations between the Holy See and Emperor Constantine Pogonatus regarding the imperial influence over papal elections. Under St. Agatho, talks had begun to ease or eliminate the longstanding consecration tax imposed by the Byzantine treasury on new popes—a burden carried for nearly a century. While Constantine promised reforms to Agatho, further changes unfolded during Leo’s successor’s tenure, which probably contributed to the delayed imperial confirmation of Leo’s papacy.

Despite his short time as pope, Leo’s most significant achievement was his endorsement of the Sixth Ecumenical Council (680-681), convened in Constantinople to combat the Monothelite heresy. This council had been overseen by Pope Agatho’s legates. After affirming the council’s decrees to the emperor, Leo actively disseminated its rulings throughout Western Christendom. He addressed letters to the king, bishops, and nobles of Spain, outlining the council’s outcomes and urging bishops to formally endorse its decisions. Notably, he clarified that the posthumous condemnation of Pope Honorius I was not due to heretical teaching but because of his insufficient opposition to heresy. In line with Leo’s directive, a synod in Toledo (684) officially accepted the Council of Constantinople’s decrees.

During this period, the archbishops of Ravenna, emboldened by the city’s status as a residence for imperial governors—the exarchs—aspired to elevate themselves to patriarchal rank and gain autonomy from papal authority. Unable to secure papal consent, they sought imperial support for autocephaly through an edict. However, Leo successfully persuaded Emperor Constantine Pogonatus to rescind the decree issued by Emperor Constans, which had granted them such independence. On the other hand, Leo abolished the customary tax paid by archbishops upon receiving the pallium. He maintained that archbishops-elect must travel to Rome for consecration but allowed their stay to be no longer than eight days. Additionally, while they were not required to return annually in person to pay homage, each archbishop was obliged to send a representative yearly.

Concerned about potential Lombard attacks on the catacombs, Leo relocated many martyrs’ relics to a newly constructed church for safekeeping. His contemporary biographer described him as both just and learned. Pope St. Leo II is commemorated as a saint in the Roman Martyrology, with his feast day observed on June 28.