Sign in

Catacomb of Callixtus (Relics of St. Cornelius)

Saints & Tombs Not Applicable
Rome, Italy 3rd century Feast day: September 16

A church holding relics of St. Cornelius.

St. Cornelius →
Save to my journey Mark as visited
Plan a trip here

The Story

The Catacomb of Callixtus, on the ancient Appian Way south of Rome, is among the largest and most important of the Christian catacombs. Begun in the second century and administered in its early years by the deacon Callixtus, later pope, it became the official cemetery of the Church of Rome and contains the celebrated Crypt of the Popes, the burial place of nine third-century pontiffs. Among those laid to rest in the complex was Pope St. Cornelius, who governed the Church from 251 to 253 during the fierce persecutions that followed the emperor Decius. Cornelius defended the Church's power to forgive Christians who had lapsed under persecution, working closely with St. Cyprian of Carthage. Exiled by the emperor Gallus to Centumcellae (modern Civitavecchia), he died there in 253 and is honored as a martyr. His body was brought back to Rome and buried in the Crypt of Lucina, one of the oldest sections of the Callixtus complex, where his tomb can still be seen bearing its original Latin inscription, "Cornelius Martyr." Early frescoes nearby depict him alongside St. Cyprian, with whom he shares the feast of September 16 on the General Roman Calendar. Like most relics in the catacombs, his remains were translated to churches within the city's walls in the early Middle Ages, but his original tomb remains a place of veneration. Rediscovered scientifically by the archaeologist Giovanni Battista de Rossi in the nineteenth century, the catacombs today are cared for under the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology. Pilgrims descend into the galleries to pray where the early Roman Christians buried their dead in sure hope of the resurrection.

Church Recognition

The Catacomb of Callixtus is maintained under the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology and entrusted to the Salesians; St. Cornelius is venerated as a pope and martyr, commemorated with St. Cyprian on September 16 in the General Roman Calendar and named in the Roman Canon.

Catholic Teaching

The catacombs bear witness to the early Church's faith in the resurrection of the body and the communion of saints (CCC 946–962, 988–1004), and the martyrdom of St. Cornelius exemplifies the supreme witness of fidelity to Christ (CCC 2473).

Plan Your Visit

Open only what you need.

Practical

Additional Information

Pilgrims visit the catacombs on the Via Appia Antica by guided tour, descending to the Crypt of the Popes, the Crypt of St. Cecilia, and the ancient galleries with their early Christian frescoes and inscriptions. The site is a frequent stop on pilgrimages tracing the faith of the early Roman Church.

Go Deeper

The official website of the Catacombs of St. Callixtus (https://www.catacombesancallisto.it) provides history and visit information; see also the Catechism on the communion of saints and the resurrection of the dead (CCC 946–962, 988–1004).

Location

Visit the official website ↗ See it on the interactive map →

In the Area

Other sacred sites within 40 miles.