Callixtus means «beautiful» in Greek.
This Pope is famous for the Catacombs of St. Callixtus in Rome. He organized these catacombs, which have four floors and more than 20 kilometers of corridors. You can find the tomb of Saint Cecilia and the tombs of many martyrs here.
He was a slave who was freed and devoted himself to studying and teaching Christianity. Pope St. Ceferino appointed him to oversee the Catacombs in 199. Callixtus expanded and organized these catacombs.
When Saint Ceferino died, the people of Rome chose Callixtus as the new Pope. But Hippolytus opposed him. He said Callixtus was wrong to say that sinners could be readmitted to the Catholic Church if they repented. Callixtus knew how to be understanding.
This Pope helped many Romans become Christians, healed sick people, and helped persecuted believers.
Our saint fasted for long periods. The persecutors threw him into a dark dungeon when they took him prisoner for proclaiming his faith in Jesus Christ, expecting that he would despair of hunger. After a few days, they found him calm. They asked how he stayed calm without eating or drinking. He said he’d spent days and weeks without food or drink for the love of Jesus Christ.
In prison, he prayed for the jailer’s wife to be healed. She was already in agony, but she was healed. The jailer and his family were baptized.
The pagan chief of Rome ordered him to be thrown into a well. They covered the mouth with earth and rubble. In Rome, they point tourists to the well of St. Callixtus. His soul flew to heaven to receive a reward from Christ Jesus.
