Sixtus III (St)

Sixtus III (St.), pope, was born at Rome about the beginning of the 5th century. He became a priest under Zosimus, whose decree against the Pelagians he wrote in 418, and to him Augustine directed his celebrated letter on grace. He was elected (July 31, 432) to succeed Celestine I, and labored with more zeal than success to reconcile Cyril of Alexandria, with John of Antioch. Sixtus built several churches, adorned others, and enlarged the basilica of Tiberius (now St. Mary Major), as well as of St. John Lateran. He died at Rome, Aug. 18, 440, and was succeeded by Leo the Great. There remain of this pope eight Letters, some poems, and a few supposititious works.