Pope Saint Xystus II, the Martyr Pope

Pope Saint Xystus II (Sixtus II) – The Martyr Pope

Pope Saint Sixtus II, also written in the older Greek form Xystus II, was the 24th Pope of the Catholic Church. He led the Church for less than a year, but his brief pontificate and his heroic death made him one of the most venerated martyrs of the early Church.

1. Who was he?

• Papacy: 31 August 257 to 6 August 258 

• Predecessor: Pope Stephen I. Successor: Pope Dionysius.

• Origin: The Liber Pontificalis says he was Greek by birth and formerly a philosopher. Modern historians note this is uncertain and may come from confusion with a contemporary Greek Pythagorean philosopher of the same name, author of the “Sentences of Xystus”. 

• Name: In the Roman Canon of the Mass, the “Xystus” mentioned is Xystus II, not Xystus I.

He became pope during a relatively peaceful interlude, but that peace was about to end violently.

2. What did he do as Pope?

His predecessor, Stephen I, had broken relations with the African and Eastern Churches over a fierce theological dispute: whether baptisms performed by heretics (especially followers of Novatian) were valid.

Xystus II was more conciliatory. While he upheld the Roman position, he restored communion with Cyprian of Carthage and the Eastern churches. A letter of St. Cyprian (Ep. 80) confirms his pontificate and shows the restored friendship. 

He is also thought by some scholars to be the author of the pseudo-Cyprianic writing Ad Novatianum.

3. Martyrdom under Valerian

In 257-258, Emperor Valerian issued one of the most severe persecutions of Christians. His edict ordered that bishops, priests and deacons should be executed immediately.

On 6 August 258, soldiers found Pope Xystus celebrating the liturgy in the Catacomb of St. Callixtus on the Appian Way, seated on his episcopal chair.

He was beheaded on the spot along with six of his deacons: Januarius, Vincentius, Magnus, Stephanus, Felicissimus and Agapitus. 

His most famous deacon was not there that day: St. Lawrence (Laurence) of Rome. According to tradition, Xystus told Lawrence, who wanted to die with him, “You will follow me in three days.” Lawrence was indeed martyred four days later, on 10 August. 

Pope Damasus I later placed a moving inscription on Xystus’s tomb in the Catacomb of Callixtus:

“At the time when the sword pierced the bowels of the Mother, I, buried here, taught as Pastor the Word of God; when suddenly the soldiers rushed in and dragged me from the chair. The faithful offered their necks to the sword, but as soon as the Pastor saw the ones who wished to rob him of the palm (of martyrdom) he was the first to offer himself and his own head, not tolerating that the pagan frenzy should harm the others.” 

4. Legacy

• He is venerated in the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, and Oriental Orthodoxy. 

• In the Liturgy: He is named in the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I).

• Feast Day: 6 August (day of martyrdom), with his companions commemorated on 7 August in the General Roman Calendar since 1969. His fresco by Sandro Botticelli appears in the Sistine Chapel. 

• Patronage: He is invoked as a protector of the Church in times of persecution.

Xystus II is the model of the Pastor Bonus—the Good Shepherd who offers his head so that his flock might be spared. Though his reign lasted less than 12 months, he healed a schism and sealed his faith with blood.