Memorial of Sixtus II, pope and martyr, and companions

Sixtus II was pope from August 30, 257 to August 6, 258, following
Stephen I as bishop of Rome in 257. Sixtus was more conciliatory than
his predecessor, who had broken off relations with Cyprian over the
question of whether lapsed Christians should be re-baptized before being
allowed back into the Church. Sixtus was willing to let bishops decide
what to do in their own areas of control and accepted the existence of
both practices. Sixtus restored the relations with the African and
Eastern churches, which had been broken off by his predecessor on the
question of heretical baptism. In the persecutions under Emperor
Valerian I in 258, numerous priests and bishops were put to death. Pope
Sixtus II was one of the first victims of this persecution. He was
captured by soldiers while giving a sermon and perhaps beheaded right
there, along with four deacons. He was buried in the same catacomb where
he had been celebrating Mass when he was arrested. He died in 258 as a
martyr