Pope Callixtus III


Callixtus III
Bishop of Rome
Portrait by Sano di Pietro, 1455
ChurchCatholic Church
Papacy began8 April 1455
Papacy ended6 August 1458
PredecessorNicholas V
SuccessorPius II
Previous post(s)
Orders
Consecration31 August 1429
by Pierre de Foix
Created cardinal2 May 1444
by Eugene IV
Personal details
Born
Alfons de Borja

(1378-12-31)31 December 1378
Died6 August 1458(1458-08-06) (aged 79)
Rome, Papal States
EducationUniversity of Lleida
Coat of armsCallixtus III's coat of arms
Other popes named Callixtus
Papal styles of
Pope Callixtus III
Reference styleHis Holiness
Spoken styleYour Holiness
Religious styleHoly Father
Posthumous styleNone

Pope Callixtus III (Italian: Callisto III, Valencian: Calixt III, Spanish: Calixto III; 31 December 1378 – 6 August 1458), born Alfonso de Borgia (Valencian: Alfons de Borja), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 8 April 1455 to his death, in August 1458.

Borgia spent his early career as a professor of law at the University of Lleida; he later served as a diplomat for the kings of Aragon. He became a tutor for King Alfonso V's illegitimate son Ferdinand. After arranging a reconciliation between Alfonso and Pope Martin V, Borgia was made Bishop of Valencia.

In 1444, Pope Eugene IV named him a cardinal, and Borgia became a member of the Roman Curia. During the siege of Belgrade (1456), Callixtus initiated the custom that bells be rung at midday to remind the faithful to pray for the crusaders. The tradition of the Angelus noon bell still exists in most Catholic churches to this day. He was also responsible for the retrial of Joan of Arc that saw her vindicated. He appointed two nephews as cardinals, one of whom became Pope Alexander VI. He is the last pope to date to take on the pontifical name "Callixtus".