Pope Celestine V
Pope Celestine V[edit]
Pope Celestine V, originally named Pietro Angelerio, was a Catholic monk who was elected pope in 1294.
Background[edit]
Celestine was a regular monk who held strong ideals regarding the church and its governance. At one point, he even wrote an angry letter to some cardinals expressing his discontent, reminiscent of the phrase "old man yells at cloud."
Election and Resignation[edit]
Despite his reluctance, his ideas resonated so much with the cardinals that they elected him as pope. However, he did not want to fulfill the role and eventually resigned, becoming the first pope in over 700 years to do so.
After his resignation, Celestine returned to a quiet life, attempting to live in the woods as if nothing had happened. Unfortunately, the church feared he had too much political power, and he was arrested. Celestine V died shortly after his captivity.
Legacy[edit]
His unusual rise and fall from power and the circumstances surrounding his resignation make Pope Celestine V a truly unique figure in papal history. Some speculate that figures like Pietro Parolin could be the next to follow in similar footsteps.
