|
||||
Name:
Pope Sixtus II
Preceded by: St. Stephen I (254 - 257)
Succeeded by: St. Dionysius (260 - 268)
Roman Catholic Pope #24
Dates:
Born: ?
Died: August 6, 258
Pope: August 21, 257 - August 6, 258 (about 1 year)
antipope: Novatian (251 - 258)
Biography:
Sixtus II was martyred in Rome under the persecutions instituted by emperor Valerian. Not
too long before Sixtus was elected pope Valerian had decreed that all Christians were
required to participate in ceremonies honoring the Roman gods. Sixtus was able to avoid
this, but while pope Valerian evidently issued a new decree which condemned all Christian
priests, bishops and decons to death. As a result, Sixtus was captures by soldiers while
giving a sermon and perhaps beheaded right there.
Sixtus was more conciliatory than his predecessor, Stephen I, who had broken off relations witih Cyprian over the question of whether Lapsed Christians should be re-baptized before being allowed back into the Church. Sixtus was willing to let bishops decide what to do in their own areas of control and accepted the existence of both practices.
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.
