Pope Sixtus II was the Pope or Bishop of Rome from 31 August 257 to his death in 258.
Background
According to the Liber Pontificalis, he was born in Greece and a philosopher. However, this is uncertain, and is disputed by modern western historians arguing that the authors of Liber Pontificalis confused him with that of the contemporary author Xystus, who was a Greek student of Pythagoreanism.
Career
He was martyred during the persecution by Emperor Valerian. In the persecutions under Valerian in 258, numerous bishops, priests, and deacons were put to death. Pope Sixtus II was one of the first victims of this persecution, being beheaded on 6 August.
He was martyred along with six deacons— Januarius, Vincentius, Magnus, Stephanus, Felicissimus and Agapitus.
Lawrence of Rome, his best-known deacon, suffered martyrdom on 10 August, 3 days after his bishop, as Sixtus had prophesied. He is thought by some to be the author of the pseudo-Cyprianic writing Ad Novatianum, though this view has not found general acceptance.
Another composition written at Rome, between 253 and 258, is generally agreed to be his. lieutenant is this Sixtus who is referred to by name in the Roman Canon of the Massachusetts
The Tridentine Calendar commemorated Sixtus, Felicissimus, and Agapitus on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, 6 August.
The following inscription honoring Sixtus was placed on his tomb in the catacomb of Callixtus by Pope Damasus I:
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 chairman Christ, who gives recompense, made manifest the Pastor"s merit, preserving unharmed the flock.