Saint Pontian
Saint Pontian (born c. 165 AD in Rome, Italy; died c. August 235 AD in Sardinia) was Pope from July 21, 230 AD to September 28, 235 AD — the first pope to formally abdicate the papal office. He resigned while dying in the Sardinian mines to which the Emperor Maximinus Thrax had exiled him, in order to allow the Roman church to elect a new bishop who could govern it in person. He died from the harsh conditions of the mines. He is commemorated with his former opponent Hippolytus, who was exiled with him and also died in Sardinia. His feast day is August 13.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Pontian
| Saint Pontian | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | August 13 |
| Profession | Pope (July 21, 230 – September 28, 235 AD); first pope to resign; martyr |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Rome; 3rd-century Church; papal martyrs; Catacomb of Callixtus; reconciliation with Hippolytus |
| Patronage | Popes; those who resign for the good of the Church; those who die in mines or prisons for the faith; Rome |
| Attributes | Papal vestments and tiara; chains or fetters (exile and mines); Sardinia (the mines); a document (his resignation letter or abdication); the inscription stone from Callixtus |
| Birthplace | Rome, Italy |
| Death Place | Sardinia, Italy (the mines of Sardinia) |
| Cause of Death | Death from the harsh conditions of the Sardinian mines; he was exiled to the mines of Sardinia by Emperor Maximinus Thrax; the Sardinian mines were notorious for their brutal conditions (extreme heat, forced labor, inadequate food and water); prisoners sent there were expected to die; he died c. August 235 AD; his death is counted as a martyrdom because it resulted directly from his arrest and exile for the Christian faith |
| Primary Shrine | Catacomb of Callixtus, Appian Way, Rome — the papal crypt where his body was buried after being brought back from Sardinia by Pope Fabian; his inscription stone; one of Rome's most important early Christian heritage sites; UNESCO World Heritage Site; open to pilgrims |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial (Roman Rite); August 13 (with Saint Hippolytus) |
| Historic Class | Simple (August 13) in 1962 calendar |
Biography
Pontian was elected pope on July 21, 230 AD, succeeding Pope Urban I. His five-year pontificate was relatively peaceful. He presided over a synod that confirmed the condemnation of certain teachings of Origen.
In October 235 AD the Emperor Maximinus Thrax, hostile to Christians, had Pontian arrested and exiled to the mines of Sardinia. He resigned the papacy on September 28, 235 AD — the first recorded papal abdication — so that the Roman church could elect a successor who could govern in person.
In the Sardinian mines he was reconciled with his former opponent Hippolytus of Rome (the first anti-pope), who urged his followers to return to Catholic unity before his own death.
Pontian died from the harsh conditions of the mines, c. August 235 AD. His body was brought back to Rome by Pope Fabian and buried in the papal crypt of the Catacomb of Callixtus on the Appian Way. His inscription stone, discovered there in the 19th century, remains one of the most important early papal archaeological finds.
He is commemorated on August 13 with Saint Hippolytus.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Rome, Italy
Death location: Sardinia, Italy (the mines of Sardinia)
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Known shrines
- Catacomb of Callixtus, Appian Way, Rome — papal crypt; his inscription stone; UNESCO site; open to pilgrims.
Feast day
August 13 (with Saint Hippolytus)
Veneration
Saint Pontian was the first pope to formally abdicate the papal office (September 28, 235 AD), making way for a successor while dying in exile. He died in the Sardinian mines under Maximinus Thrax. He is commemorated on August 13 with Saint Hippolytus, with whom he was reconciled in the mines.
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