This is a list of non-extant papal tombs, which includes tombs not included on the list of extant papal tombs. Information about these tombs is generally incomplete and uncertain.
Chronologically, the main locations of destroyed or unknown papal tombs have been: the obscure tombs of the first two centuries of popes near Saint Peter, the repeated waves of translations from the Catacombs of Rome, the demolition of the papal tombs in Old St. Peter's Basilica, and the 1306 and 1361 fires in the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran.
Papal tombs have also been destroyed by other instances of fire, remodeling, and war (most recently, World War II). Others are unknown due to creative or geographically remote methods of martyrdom, or—in the case of Pope Clement I—both. Burial in churches outside the Aurelian Walls of Rome (Italian: fuori le Mura)—in the basilicas of Paul or Lorenzo—have not generally survived.
Main locations The main locations of destroyed or lost papal tombs include: Saint Peter's tomb, around which the following popes were traditionally believed to have been buried: Linus, Anacletus, Evaristus. Telesphorus, Hyginus, Pius I, Anicetus (later transferred to the Catacomb of Callixtus), Victor I.Reardon, 2004, pp. 23–26. Epigraphic evidence exists only for Linus, with the discovery of a burial slab marked "Linus" in 1615; however, the slab is broken such that it could have once read "Aquilinius" or "Anullinus".Reardon, 2004, p. 23. The Catacombs of Rome, specifically the Catacomb of Callixtus, the Catacomb of Priscilla (and San Silvestro in Capite, built over the catacomb), the Catacomb of Balbina, the Catacomb of Calepodius, the Catacomb of Pontian, and the Catacomb of Felicitas, which were emptied by repeated translations by the ninth centuryReardon, 2004, pp. 10–11. Papal tombs in Old St. Peter's Basilica, which once numbered over 100 papal tombs, nearly all of which were destroyed during the sixteenth/seventeenth century demolitionReardon, 2004, pp. 272–277. Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, where over a dozen tombs were destroyed in two fires (1308 and 1361)Reardon, 2004, pp. 70–109.
Other destroyed or unknown tombs 1st century Pontificate Portrait Common English name Tomb Sculptor Location Notes 88/92–97/101 Clement ISaint Clement According to tradition, translated to the Church of the Tithes (Kyiv)Reardon, 2004, pp. 23–24. According to tradition thrown into the Black Sea near Crimea, translated to the Church of the Holy Apostles, then Basilica di San Clemente, then the Church of the Tithes.
2nd century Pontificate Portrait Common English name Tomb Sculptor Location Notes 105/107–115/116 Alexander ISaint AlexanderCompeting claims (involving translation):Reardon, 2004, p. 24. Santa Sabina (Rome) San Pelino at Valva (Sulmona) Paeligni Basilica Freising, Bavaria (Catholic Encyclopedia) 115/116–125 Sixtus ISaint SixtusCompeting claims (involving translation and a finger):Reardon, 2004, pp. 24–25. Alatri Cathedral Alife Cathedral Abbey of St. Michael (Lorraine) 174/175–189 EleuterusSaint EleutherusCompeting claims:Reardon, 2005, p. 26. Near Peter, on Vatican Hill San Giovanni della Pigna Santa Susanna (American Church in Rome)
5th century Pontificate Portrait Common English name Tomb Sculptor Location Notes 31 July 432–March/August 440 Sixtus IIISaint SixtusSan Lorenzo fuori le MuraReardon, 2004, p. 40.Then called San Lorenzo al Verano; sarcophagus destroyed, possibly in 1943 19 November 461 – 29 February 468 HilariusSaint HilariusSan Lorenzo fuori le Mura, cryptReardon, 2004, p. 41. 13 March 483 – 1 March 492 Felix IIISaint FelixEither San Paolo fuori le Mura or the crypt of Santissima Concenzione near Piazza BarberiniReardon, 2004, 41–42.
6th century Pontificate Portrait Common English name Tomb Sculptor Location Notes 1 June 536 – 11 November 537 SilveriusSaint SilveriusPalmariaReardon, 2004, p. 44.Non-contemporary shrine extant on Ponza IslandReardon, 2004, p. 270. 29 March 537 – 7 June 555 VigiliusEither San Marcello on the Via Salaria (Oxford Dictionary of Popes) or San Silvestre over the Catacomb of Priscilla on the Via Salaria (Catholic Encyclopedia)Reardon, 2004, p. 45.
7th century Pontificate Portrait Common English name Tomb Sculptor Location Notes July 649 – 16 September 655 Martin ISaint MartinChurch of our Lady (Blachdernæ), near ChersonesusPossibly buried in Archbasilica of St. John Lateran
9th century Pontificate Portrait Common English name Tomb Sculptor Location Notes 25 January 817 – 11 February 824 Paschal ISaint PaschalUnknown, but likely destroyedAlleged to have been buried in the chapel of St. Zeno of Santa Prassade (disproved by modern research); possibly buried under the altar of the oratory of Saints Processus and Martiniano and lost when the oratory was moved in 1548 or 1605.Reardon, 2004, p. 61.
10th century Pontificate Portrait Common English name Tomb Sculptor Location Notes July 903 – September 903 Leo VUnknown but destroyedEither cremated and thrown in the Tiber, buried (and thus destroyed) in Old Saint Peter's, or buried whole in Archbasilica of Saint John LateranReardon, 2004, p. 69. 1 October 965 – 6 September 972 John XIIIBasilica of Saint Paul Outside the WallsDestroyedReardon, 2004, p. 73.
11th century Pontificate Portrait Common English name Tomb Sculptor Location Notes June 1003 – December 1003 John XVIIUnknown but destroyedEither San Paolo fuori le Mura, Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran or Santa SabinaReardon, 2004, p. 79. 25 December 1003 – July 1009 John XVIIIUnknown but destroyedEither San Paolo fuori le Mura or Archbasilica of Saint John LateranReardon, 2004, p. 80. 1032–1044 Benedict IXAbbey of GrottaferrataDiscovered on March 4, 1739; destroyed during World War IIReardon, 2004, p. 81. 1045 Sylvester IIIUnknownReardon, 2004, p. 82. 13 April 1055 – 28 July 1057 Victor IISanta Maria Rotunda (Ravenna)Destroyed; claimed reburied in San Reparata (Florence) unsupported by evidenceReardon, 2004, p. 85. 2 August 1057 – 29 March 1058 Stephen IX, O.S.B.Santa Reparata (Florence)Tomb discovered in 1357 during the laying of the foundation for the new Duomo 6 December 1058 – 27 July 1061 Nicholas IISanta Reparata (Florence)Possibly reburied in the outer left aisle of St. Peter's; no remains of tomb in either today 30 September 1061 – 21 April 1073 Alexander IIUnknown but lostEither the Lateran Archbasilica or St. Peter's
12th century Pontificate Portrait Common English name Tomb Sculptor Location Notes 21 October 1187 – 17 December 1187 Gregory VIII, Can. Reg.Pisa Cathedral, Chapel of Our LadyDestroyed in the fire of 1600;Reardon, 2004, p. 98. ordered the desecration of the tomb of Antipope Victor IV in Lucca on his way to Pisa, where he died
13th century Pontificate Portrait Common English name Tomb Sculptor Location Notes 18 July 1216 – 18 March 1227 Honorius IIIBasilica di Santa Maria MaggioreNo longer extantReardon, 2004, p. 100. 12 December 1254 – 25 May 1261 Alexander IVViterbo CathedralDestroyed in 1490;Reardon, 2004, p. 103. no longer extant
Notes
References
Reardon, Wendy J. 2004. The Deaths of the Popes. Macfarland & Company, Inc.