Popes buried in San Silvestro

Photograph of 8th century plaque from the courtyard of San Silvestro in Capite 

listing the names of male saints whose remains were buried in the church, including the Popes listed below apart from Sylvester and Denis. Another plaque lists the female saints.

January 314 - December 335

His entire Pontificate took place during the reign of the Roman Emporer Constantine the Great, beginning within a year of the signing of the Edict of Milan (February 313) through which Christianity went from being a persecuted fatih to the official religion of the Roman Empire. Great new churches built in Rome during this time, endowed with splendid gifts by the Emperor and consecrated by Pope Sylvester, include the basilica and the baptistery of Saint John Lateran, Saint Peter’s, Saint Laurence-outside-the-walls and Santa Croce in Gerusalemme. Contrary to popular legend, he did not baptise Constantine. Buried originally in a cemetery-church he had built over  the catacomb of Priscilla.

May 254 - 2 August 257

Famous for insisting that those who had denied their Christian faith in the face of persecution could be readmitted to the Eucharist through repentance. Buried originally in the Crypt of the Popes in the catacomb of Callixtus on the Via Appia.

22 July 260 - 26 December 268

Probably of Greek origin, he was the immediate successor of the martyred Pope Sixtus II. He is mentioned in the Liber Pontificalis, in the biography of Pope Leo III, as being the titular patron of the public church attached to the monastery of San Silvestro. Not a martyr, but originally buried next to his predecessor in the Crypt of the Popes in the catacomb of Callixtus.

21 November 235 - 3 January 236

A Greek, he was pope during the persecution of the Emperor Maximinus. Buried originally in the Crypt of the Popes in the catacomb of Callixtus, the first Pope to be buried there.

2 July 311 - 10 January 314

A north African, probably a Roman citizen, he was the immediate predecessor of Pope Saint Sylvester, being Pope when the Edict of Milan was signed. He was originally buried in the catacomb of Callixtus.

25 June 253 -5 March 254

A Roman, he was sent into exile during persecutions at the beginning of his pontificate, but was later able to return to Rome. Buried originally in the Crypt of the Popes in the catacomb of Callixtus.

17 December 283 - 22 April 296

Little is known for certain about him. Buried originally near the Crypt of the Popes in the catacomb of Callixtus.

198/9 - 217

During his pontificate, the archdeacon at Rome was Callixtus, who had charge of the catacomb on the Via Appia which has since been called after him. Buried originally in a catacomb on the Via Appia, probably that of Callixtus.