Leontius of Naples

Saint Leontius was bishop of Naples (in Italy) from 648 or 649 until 652 or 653 and died at Naples. Our sources say that he is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, with commemoration on 26 July. They cite no Orthodox act of canonization, so here we treat him as a saint of the undivided Church in the West.

Nothing is preserved of his family or of his early years. The most important source about him is the first part of the "Deeds of the Bishops of Naples", written at the end of the eighth or the beginning of the ninth century by an anonymous author. Leontius became bishop in 648 or 649, after Eusebius, who had died shortly before. According to medieval sources, his candidacy was proposed to the Neapolitans by Pope Martin I.

In October 649 he took part in the Lateran Council, where the Monothelites were condemned. A gold cross adorned with precious stones, made at the command of Bishop Leontius, has been preserved, which held a particle of the Life-⁠giving Wood of the Cross. In the Middle Ages this holy relic was one of the most venerated by the faithful of the diocese of Naples.

After four years as bishop he died in 652 or 653. His successor was Saint Adeodatus. Known for his piety, he was venerated as a saint by the Neapolitans soon after his death, as shown by the mention of his name in a martyrology of the ninth century, whose author drew on earlier church sources. His commemoration is on 26 July. He must not be confused with the bishop of the same name of Neapolis in Cyprus (today's Limassol).