|
||
Name:
Pope Sixtus I
Pope Xystus
Preceded by: St. Alexander I (105 - 115)
Succeeded by: St. Telesphorus (125 - 136)
Roman Catholic Pope #7
Dates:
Born: Rome?
Died: c. 0125 CE
Pope: c. 0117 - c. 0125 (9 years)
Feast Day: April 6
Biography:
Some believe that the name "Sixtus" derives from the fact that he was the sixth pope to reign
after Peter - after that, it simply became another traditional papal name and was adopted by
several others over the centuries. Alternatively, early documents record his name as Xystus,
which is Greek for "shaved" and might have been a reference to the unusual practice of shaving
his face or head (during this time, Rome was ruled by emperor Hadrian who brought back the
trend of full beards).
According to the "Liber Pontificalis," he was responsible for three important ordinances: that only sacred ministers may touch sacred vessels, that bishops summoned to the Holy See should not be received by their diocese when they return unless they have Apostolic letters, and that priests should recite the Sanctus with the people during mass.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
-->Popes and the Papacy: History, Doctrines, News About Popes
The pope may be the most visible and famous symbol of the Catholic Church. It is the office of the papacy and the assumed link back to the original apostles that differentiates Roman Catholicism from other Christian denominations. The office of the papacy is rather complicated and, much to the chagrin of believers, comes with a rather checkered past.Pope John Paul II: Biography, History, and Policies
John Paul II has been one of the longest-lived and most influential popes in the history of the Catholic Church. For good or for ill, his policies and personality have helped shape not only the current character of Catholicism but also the direction Catholicism will take for generations to come. Because of that, it's important to take the time to carefully consider what his policies have been and how they have affected Catholics around the world.Electing the Next Pope: Index of Resources on Papal Elections
Every human is mortal, and that includes popes. Some live and reign for extraordinarily long times while others only serve for a few days, but in the end all die and a new pope must be elected. How are papal elections run? A papal election is a process that is shrouded in secrecy; the details of any one election are supposed to be kept hidden, but general information is known.Book Reviews: Roman Catholic Popes, Papacy, History
Who or what is the pope? The title pope stems from the Greek word papas, which simply means "father." Early in Christian history it was used as a formal title expressing affectionate respect for any bishop and sometimes even priests. Today it continues to be used in Eastern Orthodox churches for the patriarch of Alexandria.
