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Pope Sixtus III

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Pope Saint

Sixtus III
Bishop of Rome
ChurchCatholic Church
Papacy began31 July 432
Papacy ended18 August 440
PredecessorCelestine I
SuccessorLeo I
Personal details
Bornc. 390
Rome, Roman Empire
Died18 August 440(440-08-18) (aged 49–50)
Gaul, Western Roman Empire
Sainthood
Feast day28 March
Other popes named Sixtus

Pope Sixtus III was the bishop of Rome from 31 July 432 to his death on 18 August 440. His ascension to the papacy is associated with a period of increased construction in the city of Rome. His feast day is celebrated by Catholics on 28 March.

Early career

Sixtus was born in Rome and before his accession he was prominent among the Roman clergy,[1] and frequently corresponded with Augustine of Hippo.[2] According to Peter Brown, before being made pope, Sixtus was a patron of Pelagius, who was later condemned as a heretic,[3] although Alban Butler disagrees and attributes the charge to Garnier. Nicholas Weber also disputes this, "...it was probably owing to his conciliatory disposition that he was falsely accused of leanings towards these heresies."[1]

Pontificate

Mosaic from Santa Maria Maggiore (c. AD 435), with Sixtus III's name (Xystus Episcopus Plebi Dei, "Sixtus Bishop to the People of God.")

Sixtus was consecrated pope on 31 July 432. He attempted to restore peace between Cyril of Alexandria and John of Antioch. He also defended the rights of the pope over Illyria and the position of the archbishop of Thessalonica as head of the local Illyrian church against the ambition of Proclus of Constantinople.[1]

His name is often connected with a great building boom in Rome: Santa Sabina on the Aventine Hill was dedicated during his pontificate. He built the Liberian Basilica as Santa Maria Maggiore, whose dedication to Mary the Mother of God reflected his acceptance of the Ecumenical council of Ephesus which closed in 431. At that council, the debate over Christ's human and divine natures turned on whether Mary could legitimately be called the "Mother of God" or only "Mother of Christ". The council gave her the Greek title Theotokos (literally "God-bearer", or "Mother of God"), and the dedication of the large church in Rome is a response to that.

Sixtus III's feast day is 28 March.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Weber, Nicholas. "Pope St. Sixtus III." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 15 September 2017
  2. ^ ""St. Sixtus III, Pope", Catholic News Agency, March 28, 2017". Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  3. ^ Brown, Peter. "Pelagius and his Supporters." Journal of Theological Studies. 1968.XIX.1(93–114).

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Pope St. Sixtus III". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

Literature

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sixtus III.
Titles of the Great Christian Church
Preceded by Pope
432–440 		Succeeded by
Leo I
(the Great)
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