The Crypt of the Popes

There were sixteen popes buried underground but in different Crypts underground. Inside the papal crypt there were nine (9) Pontiffs of the third century buried and eight representatives of the ecclesiastical hierarchy were also buried. When the crypt was rediscovered only six Popes were identified: Pope Pontian (21 July 230 - 28 September 235), Pope Anterus (21 November 235 - 3 January 236), Pope Fabian (10 January 236 - 20 January 250), Pope LuciusI (25 June 253 - 5 March 254), Pope Eutychian (4 January 275 - 7 December 283) and Pope Sixtus II (30/31 August 257 - 6 August 258).

Pope Sixtus II

In the year 258 during the reign of emperor Valerian, there was a huge persecution against the Church. Under the decree of the emperor, Christians were forbidden to celebrate the Eucharist in "Domus". On the 6th of August, Pope Sixtus II celebrated the Holy Eucharist underground with four deacons including archdeacon Lawrence (who was martyred few days latter) and some Christians. Sixtus II was captured and on that same day he was sentenced to death and decapitated in the catacomb, most probably in the surface. He was the only Pope to be martyred here in this catacomb, while the other Pontiffs remains were brought from different parts of the Roman Empire, because this was the only official cemetery of the Church.

Curiosity

There were few Popes from the modern era who came here to pray over the tombs of the Popes, they were Pope Pius IX, Pope St. John XXIII (1961), Pope Paul VI (1965) and Pope St. John Paul II (1984).

There were also few saints who visited the place after its discovery: St. Philip Neri (1515-1595), St. Carlo Borromeo (1538-1584), St. John Bosco (1815-1888) and St. Teresa of Lisieux (1873-1897).