List of extant papal tombs

A pope is the Bishop of Rome and the leader of the Catholic Church. Approximately 100 papal tombs are at least partially extant, representing fewer than half of the 266 deceased popes, from Saint Peter to Pope Francis. For the first few centuries in particular, little is known of the popes and their tombs, and available information is often contradictory. As with other religious relics, multiple sites claim to house the same tomb. Furthermore, many papal tombs that recycled sarcophagi and other materials from earlier tombs were later recycled for their valuable materials or combined with other monuments. For example, the tomb of Pope Leo I was combined with Leos II, III, and IV circa 855, and then removed in the seventeenth century and placed under his own altar, below Alessandro Algardi's relief, Fuga d'Attila. The style of papal tombs has evolved considerably throughout history, tracking trends in the development of church monuments. Notable papal tombs have been commissioned from sculptors such as Michelangelo and Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Most extant papal tombs are located in St. Peter's Basilica, other major churches of Rome (especially Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, Santa Maria sopra Minerva and Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore), or other churches of Italy, France, and Germany.

Tables

· 1st–5th centuries › 1st century

Peter Saint Peter

Pontificate

30–67 (as Head of the Church)

Common English name

Peter Saint Peter

Image

Sculptor

Gian Lorenzo Bernini (baldachin)

Location

St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City (Rome)

Notes

See Saint Peter's tomb

Pontificate	Portrait	Common English name	Image	Sculptor	Location	Notes
30–67 (as Head of the Church)		Peter Saint Peter		Gian Lorenzo Bernini (baldachin)	St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City (Rome)	See Saint Peter's tomb
post 42 / ante 57–64/67(?) (as Bishop of Rome)

· 1st–5th centuries › 2nd century

Anicetus Saint Anicetus

Pontificate

c. 157–168

Common English name

Anicetus Saint Anicetus

Image

Location

Palazzo Altemps (Piazza Navona), Rome

Notes

Remains transferred from Vatican Hill to the Cemetery of Callixtus and possibly again thereafter; sarcophagus which may once have contained remains is extant in the Palazzo Altemps

Pontificate	Portrait	Common English name	Image	Sculptor	Location	Notes
c. 157–168		Anicetus Saint Anicetus			Palazzo Altemps (Piazza Navona), Rome	Remains transferred from Vatican Hill to the Cemetery of Callixtus and possibly again thereafter; sarcophagus which may once have contained remains is extant in the Palazzo Altemps

· 1st–5th centuries › 3rd century

Lucius I Saint Lucius

Pontificate

25 June 253 – 5 March 254

Common English name

Lucius I Saint Lucius

Image

Location

Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, Rome

Notes

Transferred from the Catacomb of Callixtus to one or more of: Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, San Silvestro in Capite, and Santa Prassede; sarcophagus that once held remains is extant in the crypt of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere

Caius Saint Caius

Pontificate

17 December 283 – 22 April 296

Common English name

Caius Saint Caius

Image

Location

Sant'Andrea della Valle (Barberini chapel), Rome

Notes

Translated from the crypt of St. Eusebius in the Cemetery of Callixtus to San Silvestre in Capite, then to another church, then to the private chapel of the Barberini princes in Sant'Andrea della Valle

Pontificate	Portrait	Common English name	Image	Sculptor	Location	Notes
25 June 253 – 5 March 254		Lucius I Saint Lucius			Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, Rome	Transferred from the Catacomb of Callixtus to one or more of: Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, San Silvestro in Capite, and Santa Prassede; sarcophagus that once held remains is extant in the crypt of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere
17 December 283 – 22 April 296		Caius Saint Caius			Sant'Andrea della Valle (Barberini chapel), Rome	Translated from the crypt of St. Eusebius in the Cemetery of Callixtus to San Silvestre in Capite, then to another church, then to the private chapel of the Barberini princes in Sant'Andrea della Valle

· 1st–5th centuries › 4th century

Mark Saint Mark

Pontificate

18 January 336 – 7 October 336

Common English name

Mark Saint Mark

Image

Location

San Marco Evangelista al Campidoglio, Rome

Notes

Translated from the Catacomb of Balbina, one of the Catacombs of Rome, to an urn below the main altar of San Marco

Pontificate	Portrait	Common English name	Image	Sculptor	Location	Notes
18 January 336 – 7 October 336		Mark Saint Mark			San Marco Evangelista al Campidoglio, Rome	Translated from the Catacomb of Balbina, one of the Catacombs of Rome, to an urn below the main altar of San Marco

· 1st–5th centuries › 5th century

Leo I Saint Leo Leo the Great

Pontificate

29 September 440 – 10 November 461

Common English name

Leo I Saint Leo Leo the Great

Image

Sculptor

Alessandro Algardi (relief)

Location

St. Peter's Basilica, Chapel of the Madonna of Partorienti

Notes

First pope buried on the porch of Old St. Peter's Basilica; translated multiple times, combined with Leos II, III, and IV circa 855; removed in the seventeenth century and placed under his own altar, below Algardi's relief, Fuga d'Attila (pictured)

Pontificate	Portrait	Common English name	Image	Sculptor	Location	Notes
29 September 440 – 10 November 461		Leo I Saint Leo Leo the Great		Alessandro Algardi (relief)	St. Peter's Basilica, Chapel of the Madonna of Partorienti	First pope buried on the porch of Old St. Peter's Basilica; translated multiple times, combined with Leos II, III, and IV circa 855; removed in the seventeenth century and placed under his own altar, below Algardi's relief, Fuga d'Attila (pictured)

References

Mann, 2003, p. 1.
Reardon, 2004, pp. 5–12.
Reardon, 2004, pp. 269–271.
Reardon, 2004, pp. 23–26.
Reardon, 2004, p. 23.
Reardon, 2004, pp. 10–11.
Reardon, 2004, pp. 272–277.
Reardon, 2004, pp. 70–109.
Reardon, 2004, p. 25.
Reardon, 2004, p. 270.
Reardon, 2004, p. 30.
Reardon, 2004, p. 31.
Reardon, 2004, pp. 34–35.
Reardon, 2004, p. 40–41.
Reardon, 2004, pp. 46–48.
Reardon, 2004, p. 48.
Mann, 2003, p. 22.
Reardon, 2004, pp. 49–51.
Reardon, 2004, pp. 54–55.
Reardon, 2004, p. 60.