The papal legates at the Council of Chalcedon did not accept this canon.  Therefore, the Emperor Marcian and the Patriarch of Constantinople, Anatolius, asked for approval from the Bishop of Rome, Pope Leo.  March 21, 453, the Pope of Rome approved the Council of Chalcedon, with the exception of Canon 28, above, since it ran counter to the canons of Nicea and to the privileges of particular Churches. Moreover, Rome consistently based its claims on the heritage of St. Peter and St. Paul, not on political importance.  If Canon 28, basing the authority of the Church of Constantinople on such motives, were valid, then Constantinople has lost all its authority since 1453.

It is noteworthy that Pope Leo never wanted to hold the Council in the first place. He thought that such a Council would cause people to leave the Church and end up in schism. He implored the Emperor that the faith handed down from ancient times should not become the subject of debate.  The only business at hand, said the Pope, was the restoration of exiled bishops to their former posts.  In due time, especially in Egypt, Leo was proved right.