Pope Sixtus III

Who was Pope Sixtus III?

Pope Sixtus III was the head of the Catholic Church from 31 July 432 to his death in 440.

The name of Sixtus is often connected with a great building boom in Rome: Santa Sabina on the Aventine Hill was dedicated during his pontificate and he built 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, and the dedication of the large church in Rome is a response to that.

Prior to being made Pope, Sixtus was a patron of Pelagius, who was later condemned as a heretic.

One of his main concerns was in restoring peace between Cyril of Alexandria and the Syrians.

He also maintained the rights of the Pope over Illyria and the position of the archbishop of Thessalonica as head of the local Illyrian church.

His feast is kept on 28 March.