\paperw4260 \margr0\margl0 \plain \pard\tx150\tx870\tx1590\tx2310\tx3030\tx3750\tx4470\tx5190\tx5910\tx6630\ATXts240\qc\ATXbrdr0 \f1 \fs24 \b \i St. Sixtus II\fs28 \i0
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\fs24 \cf4 \ATXht414 Botticelli\fs28 \par
\qj \fs24 \b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 He was elected successor of Stephen in September 257 AD and immediately showed a greater will for union and conciliation among the various positions in the Church compared to his
predecessor. \fs28 \par
\fs24 Hence, Pope Sixtus succeeded in bringing back unity among the Church of Rome, Africa and the Eastern provinces. \fs28 \par
\fs24 But a new ferocious persecution fell upon the Christians due to Emperor Valerian, and
among the first to be hit by the Roman soldiers were Pope Sixtus on August 8th, 258 AD, Cyprian, the clever pius bishop of Carthage, and the Roman deacon \b \cf4 \ATXht71904 Lawrence\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 , who was burnt on a grate according to tradition.\fs28 \par