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Pope Callixtus III

Pope of the Catholic Church from 1455 to 1458 from the Borgia family · Spain · Religious Figures · Lived 1379 to 1458 · aged 79

Pope Callixtus III is read about 386 times a day, in 79 languages.

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A Spanish lawyer and diplomat who became pope at 77, best remembered not for theology but for ordering the retrial that cleared Joan of Arc's name - and for ringing church bells at noon to rally Europe against the Ottomans, a habit that stuck.

Religious FiguresReligious FigureReligionMedieval Era

A life in dates

1458Died15 August 1458“Only cowards fear danger; the palm of glory grows nowhere but on the battle-field.”In their wordsRemark (1458), quoted in Ludwig Pastor, The History of the Popes from the Close of the Middle Ages, Volume II (1891), p. 387

1457“Beloved son! continue to defend the Catholic Faith; God, for whom you fight, will not abandon His cause.”In their words17 September 1457Letter to Skanderbeg (17 September 1457), quoted in Ludwig Pastor, The History of the Popes from the Close of the Middle Ages, Volume II

“I have been chosen for the destruction of the enemies of the Faith.”In their wordsAugust 1457Inscription on the medal commemorating the victory over the Ottomans in August 1457 at Mitylene, quoted in Ludwig Pastor, The History of

“Woe, woe to those, whoever they may be, who hinder the cause of the crusade!”In their words16 February 1457Brief to Cardinal Alain (16 February 1457), quoted in Ludwig Pastor, The History of the Popes from the Close of the Middle Ages, Volume II

1456“The Christian who does not now render assistance in following up the victory God has granted proves himself unworthy of divine favours.”In their words8 October 1456Letter to Cardinal Alain (8 October 1456) after the Siege of Belgrade, quoted in Ludwig Pastor, The History of the Popes from the Close of

“Nothing will induce me to leave Rome, not even if, like so many others, I am to fall a victim to the plague. Mahomet, the enemy of our faith, compels me to remain.”In their words27 July 1456Remarks to the Milanese ambassador, Jacopo Calcaterra (27 July 1456), quoted in Ludwig Pastor, The History of the Popes from the Close of

1379Born8 January 1379

Also in Deutsch

Photos 6

Calixtus IIICalixtus IIIBasílica de San Pedro - Grutas Vaticanas - Tumba de Calixto III - 001Basílica de San Pedro - Grutas Vaticanas - Tumba de Calixto III - 001Bolla papale di callisto III sulla restituzione di beni al convento della sambuca, roma 20 giugno 1455Bolla papale di callisto III sulla restituzione di beni al convento della sambuca, roma 20 giugno 1455Calze del Papa Calixt III, col·legiata de XàtivaCalze del Papa Calixt III, col·legiata de XàtivaCanals - Placa en memòria de la festa de la Transfiguració 1Canals - Placa en memòria de la festa de la Transfiguració 1Saint Peter's Basilica 2020 P13 Grotte vaticane Funerary Monument of Calixtus IIISaint Peter's Basilica 2020 P13 Grotte vaticane Funerary Monument of Calixtus III

In their own words 8

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Pope Callixtus III
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8 statements, newest first

  1. Only cowards fear danger; the palm of glory grows nowhere but on the battle-field.

    1458, Remark (1458), quoted in Ludwig Pastor, The History of the Popes from the Close of the Middle Ages, Volume II (1891), p. 387, Own words

  2. Beloved son! continue to defend the Catholic Faith; God, for whom you fight, will not abandon His cause.

    Sep 17, 1457, Letter to Skanderbeg (17 September 1457), quoted in Ludwig Pastor, The History of the Popes from the Close of the Middle Ages, Volume II, Own words

  3. I have been chosen for the destruction of the enemies of the Faith.

    Aug 1457, Inscription on the medal commemorating the victory over the Ottomans in August 1457 at Mitylene, quoted in Ludwig Pastor, The History of, Own words

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About this person

Alonso de Borja taught law at the University of Lleida before entering royal service as a diplomat for Aragon, tutoring the king's illegitimate son and smoothing over a rift between his patron and the papacy - work that earned him the bishopric of Valencia in return. Pope Eugene IV elevated him to cardinal in 1444, bringing him into the Roman Curia. Elected pope in April 1455, he took the name Callixtus III and spent his brief reign rallying Christendom against Ottoman advances; during the 1456 siege of Belgrade he ordered church bells rung at midday so the faithful would pray for the crusaders, a practice that survives as the Angelus. He also reopened the trial of Joan of Arc, leading to her posthumous vindication. His appointment of two nephews as cardinals raised eyebrows; one of them later reigned as Alexander VI. He died in August 1458, the last pope to choose the name Callixtus.

Country
Spain
Category
Religious Figures
Type
Religious Figure
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1379 to 1458 · aged 79

Religious Figures from Spain 6

Francis Xavier67.2Miguel Hidalgo Y Costilla64.3Pope Alexander VI67.6Saint Dominic63.6Ignatius of Loyola67.8Josemaría Escrivá57.6

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