St. Leo III, pope

St. Leo III, an Italian, was a priest and cardinal who was elected to the papacy Dec. 26, 795. After his election St. Leo sent the keys of St. Peter to Charlemagne, who in turn sent money to the pope. St. Leo used the money to build churches and give funds to charities. On Christmas Day in 800, St. Leo crowned Charlemagne the first Holy Roman Emperor. The pope died June 12, 816, and his relics are at St. Peter’s in Rome.