Pope Sixtus I facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pope Saint Sixtus I |
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|---|---|
| Bishop of Rome | |
Head reliquary of Pope Sixtus I, Zadar
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| Church | Early Church |
| Papacy began | c. 115 |
| Papacy ended | c. 124 |
| Predecessor | Alexander I |
| Successor | Telesphorus |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 42 Rome, Roman Empire |
| Died | 125 (aged c. 82 – 83) Rome, Roman Empire |
| Sainthood | |
| Feast day | 6 April |
| Title as Saint | Martyr |
| Other Popes named Sixtus | |
Pope Sixtus I was an early leader of the Christian Church in Rome. He was born around 42 AD and died around 124 AD. He served as the Bishop of Rome from about 115 AD until his death.
Pope Sixtus I followed Alexander I as pope. After him, Telesphorus became pope. Pope Sixtus I is remembered on April 6th each year.
What's in a Name?
The name Sixtus might sound like "sixth." This is because Pope Sixtus I was the sixth pope after Peter.
However, older documents often spell his name Xystus. This comes from a Greek word, xystos, which means "shaved."
It's important to know that the "Xystus" mentioned in the Catholic Mass is actually Xystus II, not Sixtus I.
Life and Times
Pope Sixtus I was born in Rome, which was then part of the powerful Roman Empire. His father's name was Pastor.
Church records, like the Annuario Pontificio (a book from the Holy See), say he was from Rome. They state he served as pope from about 117 or 119 AD to 126 or 128 AD.
Another old record, the Liberian Catalogue of popes, says he led the Church during the time of Emperor Hadrian. This was from 117 AD to 126 AD.
Historian Eusebius also wrote about Sixtus I. In one of his books, Chronicon, he says Sixtus I reigned from 114 AD to 124 AD. In another book, Historia Ecclesiastica, he suggests a rule from 114 AD to 128 AD. Even with these small differences, most sources agree he was pope for about ten years.
Like many popes before him, Sixtus I was thought to be buried near Peter's tomb. This famous burial spot is on Vatican Hill in Rome.
However, there are different stories about where his body rests today. For example, in a town called Alife in Italy, there is an old church crypt. This crypt is said to hold some of Pope Sixtus I's remains. They were brought there by a leader named Rainulf III.
Also, a writer named Alban Butler mentioned that Pope Clement X gave some of Sixtus I's relics to a cardinal. These relics were then placed in an abbey in Lorraine, France.
Church Rules and Traditions
Pope Sixtus I helped set up several important traditions for the Catholic Church. These rules affected how church services were held and how the Church was managed.
According to an old book called the Liber Pontificalis, he made three key rules:
- Only special church leaders, called sacred ministers, were allowed to touch the holy cups and plates used in church services. These are known as sacred vessels.
- If a bishop visited the Pope in Rome, they could only return to their home area if they carried special letters from the Pope. These were called Apostolic letters.
- During the Mass, after a prayer called the Preface, the priest and the people together would say or sing the Sanctus. This is a hymn of praise.
See also
In Spanish: Sixto I para niños
- List of Catholic saints
- List of popes
- Pope Saint Sixtus I, patron saint archive
