Urban I
3rd‑century Roman bishop of Rome, Catholic saint, pope during the reign of Alexander Severus
Feast: 25 May (1962 Missal, commemoration) · not on the current Roman calendar
Who they were
Urban, a Roman, was elected bishop of Rome after the death of Callixtus I in 222 and led the Church for eight years, until his death on 23 May 230. The schism of Hippolytus continued through his reign, and Urban kept the same line towards it as his predecessor. Under the emperor Alexander Severus, whose mother Julia Mamaea admired Origen, Christians enjoyed peace in essentials.
The miracles
There was never a formal cause: Urban has been honoured as a saint since the early Church.
Why that counted as sanctity
Urban held the Roman Church steady in a time of internal division.
Connected on this site
- Callixtus I Saint“He was born in Rome and succeeded Callixtus I, who had been martyred.” — Wikipedia
- Saint Cecilia Saint“The church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, founded in the 3rd century by Pope Urban I, is believed to be on the site of the house where she lived and died.” — Wikipedia
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - Pope St. Urban I
- Wikidata Q125631 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Pope Urban I (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.