# Pope Callixtus III

_Pope of the Catholic Church from 1455 to 1458 from the Borgia family_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/pope-callixtus-iii
Last updated: 2026-11-03

> Pope Callixtus III (Italian: Callisto III, Valencian: Calixt III, Spanish: Calixto III; 31 December 1378 – 6 August 1458), born Alonso de Borja, but referred to in English-language accounts as Alfonso de Borgia as a member of the House of Borgia, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 8 April 1455 to his death, in August 1458.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 8 January 1379 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q160369#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Torreta de Canals ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q160369#P19))
- **Died:** 15 August 1458 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q160369#P570))
- **Place of death:** Rome ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q160369#P20))
- **Occupation:** Catholic priest ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q160369#P106))
- **Positions held:** Pope (17 April 1455 – 6 August 1458); cardinal priest (12 July 1444 – 8 April 1455); cardinal (since 2 May 1444); Bishop of Valencia (20 August 1429 – 8 April 1455) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q160369#P39))

## About

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".

## Questions

**When was Pope Callixtus III born?**  
Pope Callixtus III was born on 8 January 1379 in Torreta de Canals.

**What positions has Pope Callixtus III held?**  
Positions held by Pope Callixtus III include: Pope (1455–1458); cardinal priest (1444–1455); cardinal (since 2 May 1444); Bishop of Valencia (1429–1455).

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- [Pope Clement VII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-clement-vii)
- [Pope Pius I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-pius-i)
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- [Pope Agapetus I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-agapetus-i)
- [Pope Innocent VIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-innocent-viii)
- [Pope Gregory VIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-gregory-viii)
- [Pope Paul II](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-paul-ii)
- [Pope Benedict XVI](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-benedict-xvi)
- [Pope Clement VI](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-clement-vi)
- [Pope Hormisdas](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-hormisdas)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Pope Callixtus III](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Callixtus_III) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q160369](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q160369) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Calixtus III.jpg by Sano di Pietro (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Calixtus_III.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Pope Callixtus III, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Calixtus III.jpg — Sano di Pietro, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Pope Callixtus III". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/pope-callixtus-iii. Retrieved 4 November 2026.