Pope Celestine V facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pope Saint Celestine V
Bishop of Rome
Portrait by Niccolò di Tommaso, Castel Nuovo
Church	Catholic Church
Papacy began	5 July 1294
Papacy ended	13 December 1294
Predecessor	Nicholas IV
Successor	Boniface VIII
Orders
Consecration	19 August 1294 by Hugh Aycelin
Personal details
Birth name	Pietro Angelerio
Born	1215 Near Isernia, Kingdom of Sicily
Died	19 May 1296(1296-05-19) (aged 80–81) Ferentino, Papal States
Previous post	Superior-General of the Celestines (1274–1294)
Coat of arms
Sainthood
Feast day	19 May
Venerated in	Catholic Church
Canonized	5 May 1313 by Pope Clement V
Attributes	Papal tiara and vestments, book
Patronage	Bookbinders, papal resignations, Aquila, Urbino, Molise, Sant'Angelo Limosano
Other Popes named Celestine

Pope Celestine V, born Pietro Angelerio, was a leader of the Catholic Church. He was also known as Pietro da Morrone. He served as pope for only five months, from July to December 1294, before he decided to resign. Before becoming pope, he was a monk and a hermit, living a simple, solitary life. He also started a religious group called the Celestines, which was part of the larger Benedictine order.

Pietro was chosen as pope after a long two-year wait. This was the last time a pope was elected without a special meeting called a papal conclave. One important rule he made was confirming that a pope could resign. However, most of his other decisions were canceled by the next pope, Boniface VIII.

On December 13, 1294, Celestine resigned. He wanted to go back to his quiet life as a hermit. After his resignation, Boniface VIII had him imprisoned. This was to stop anyone from trying to make Celestine an "antipope" (someone claiming to be the real pope against the official one). Celestine died in prison on May 19, 1296, at the age of 81. He was later made a saint on May 5, 1313, by Pope Clement V. No pope since then has chosen the name Celestine.

Early Life and Becoming a Monk

Pietro Angelerio was born around 1215 in Sant'Angelo Limosano. This town was in the Kingdom of Sicily at the time. Today, it is part of Molise, Italy. After his father passed away, Pietro started working in the fields. His mother, Maria, wanted a different life for him. She saw his intelligence and kindness.

When he was 17, Pietro became a Benedictine monk. He joined the monastery at Faifoli. He loved living a simple, solitary life. In 1239, he moved to a lonely cave on the Montagne del Morrone. This is why he became known as Peter of Morrone. Five years later, he moved to an even more remote cave. This new home was on the Maiella mountain in the Abruzzi region. He lived there very strictly, like John the Baptist. People talked about how tough his spiritual practices were.

Starting the Celestine Order

While living as a hermit, Pietro started a new religious group in 1244. This group was later named the Celestines after him. He created rules for them based on his own strict way of life. In 1264, Pope Urban IV approved this new community.

Later, Pietro heard that Pope Gregory X might stop new religious orders. So, he went to a big meeting in Lyon. There, he convinced Pope Gregory X to approve his new order. It became a branch of the Benedictines. They followed the rules of Saint Benedict, but with even more strictness. Pope Gregory X protected the order. He also made sure they could keep any property they gained. This helped the new group grow quickly. Pietro saw his order grow to 36 monasteries and over 600 monks.

Once his new order was well-established, Pietro gave up leading it. He handed control to a monk named Robert. Pietro then went back to an even more remote place. He wanted to focus entirely on prayer and quiet reflection. In 1293, the monks decided to move their main monastery. The original one on Majella was too cold and isolated. So, they moved their headquarters to Abbazia Morronese in Sulmona. This remained their main home until the order ended in the 1800s.

Becoming Pope

The cardinals, who are high-ranking church officials, met in Perugia. This was after Pope Nicholas IV died in April 1292. They could not agree on a new pope for over two years. Pietro, who was known to the cardinals as a holy hermit, sent them a letter. He warned them that God would be angry if they did not choose a pope soon.

An old and sick cardinal named Latino Malabranca then shouted, "I elect brother Pietro di Morrone!" The other cardinals quickly agreed. When they asked Pietro to be pope, he refused. He even tried to run away, as some stories say. But a group of cardinals, along with the king of Naples, convinced him. He was elected on July 5, 1294, when he was 79 years old. He was crowned in L'Aquila on August 29. He chose the name Celestine V.

His Time as Pope

Soon after becoming pope, Celestine V made an important announcement. He offered a special plenary indulgence to all pilgrims. This was for those who visited Santa Maria di Collemaggio on the anniversary of his coronation. This event is still celebrated today in L'Aquila. It is called the Celestinian forgiveness (Perdonanza Celestiniana) festival. It takes place every August 28–29.

Celestine V had no experience in politics. This made him a weak and not very effective pope. He stayed in the Kingdom of Naples. He was far from the main church offices in Rome. He was also under the strong influence of King Charles II. He gave important church jobs to the king's friends. Sometimes, he even gave the same job to several people.

He brought back a rule from Pope Gregory X. This rule set strict guidelines for how popes should be elected. It was created after a very long election, just like the one that chose Celestine. In one decision, he appointed three cardinals to lead the Church while he fasted during Advent. But this idea was also refused.

Celestine realized he was not good at being pope. He felt he lacked the power and skills needed. So, he talked to Cardinal Benedetto Caetani, who later became the next pope. They discussed if a pope could resign. This led to Celestine making a final rule. It declared that a pope had the right to resign. He then used this right himself. He resigned on December 13, 1294. He had been pope for five months and eight days.

In his official resignation, he listed his reasons. He wanted to be humble again. He wanted a purer life and a clear conscience. He also mentioned his physical weakness and his lack of knowledge. He spoke of the difficult people around him. And he longed for the peace of his old life as a hermit. After giving up all his papal symbols, he quietly left Naples. He tried to go back to his solitary life.

The next pope to resign on his own was Gregory XII in 1415. This happened to help end a big split in the Church. Then, 719 years later, Benedict XVI resigned in 2013.

Life After Being Pope

Saint Celestine V O.S.B.
Portrait - Bartolomé Román.
Pope; Confessor
Born	Pietro Angelerio 1215 Sant'Angelo Limosano, Isernia, Kingdom of Sicily
Died	19 May 1296 (aged 80-81) Castello Longhi, Ferentino, Papal States
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Canonized	5 May 1313, Avignon, Papal States by Pope Clement V
Feast	19 May
Attributes	Papal vestments Papal tiara Benedictine habit
Patronage	Bookbinders L'Aquila Urbino Molise Sant'Angelo Limosano Celestines

Pietro Angelerio, who was once Pope Celestine, was not allowed to return to being a hermit. Many people had not wanted him to resign. The new pope, Pope Boniface VIII, worried that someone might try to make Pietro an "antipope." To stop this, Boniface ordered Pietro to come to Rome. Pietro escaped and hid in the woods. He tried to go back to his monastery in Sulmona. But this was not possible.

Pietro was caught after trying to escape by ship to Dalmatia. A storm forced his ship back to port. Boniface then imprisoned him in the castle of Fumone. This castle was near Ferentino in Lazio. Two monks from his order stayed with him. Pietro died there after 10 months, at about 81 years old. Some of his supporters claimed that Boniface had treated him badly and even killed him. However, there is no clear proof of this. Pietro was first buried in Ferentino. Later, his body was moved to the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio in L'Aquila.

Philip IV of France had supported Celestine and was against Boniface. After Pope Clement V was elected, Philip suggested that Celestine should be made a saint. Pope Clement V agreed to look into it in 1306. Celestine was made a saint on May 5, 1313. This happened after a meeting where Boniface's family was outvoted.

Celestine's Impact and Legacy

Most people today are interested in Celestine V because he resigned. He was the first pope to officially set up a process for resigning. Many people think he was the first pope to ever resign. But actually, a few popes before him had also stepped down. These included Pope Pontian (in 235), John XVIII (in 1009), Benedict IX (in 1045), and Pope Gregory VI (in 1046). Celestine's own decision to resign came from some gentle pressure from church leaders.

He also brought back a system for electing popes. This system was called the conclave system. It was first set up by Pope Gregory X. This system has been followed ever since.

In 1966, Pope Paul VI visited the place where Celestine died. He gave a speech honoring Celestine. This made some people wonder if Pope Paul VI was thinking about resigning too.

Celestine's remains survived the terrible 2009 L'Aquila earthquake. An Italian official said it was "another great miracle by the pope." His remains were safely taken from the damaged basilica. On April 28, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI visited L'Aquila to see the earthquake damage. He visited Celestine's remains in the damaged church. He left the special woolen scarf he wore when he became pope on Celestine's glass coffin. Pope Benedict XVI later became the first pope since Celestine to resign on his own.

To celebrate 800 years since Celestine's birth, Pope Benedict XVI declared a "Celestine year." It lasted from August 28, 2009, to August 29, 2010. As part of this, Benedict XVI visited the Sulmona Cathedral on July 4, 2010. He prayed before an altar that Celestine himself had blessed in 1294.

Celestine in Books and Plays

Opuscula omnia, 1640

There is a long-standing idea that Celestine V is a character in Dante Alighieri's famous poem, Inferno. Dante sees a nameless figure in the waiting area of Hell. He describes him as:

vidi e conobbi l'ombra di colui
che fece per viltade il gran rifiuto.
("I saw and recognized the shade of him
who due to cowardice made the great refusal.")

Many early writers, including Dante's son, thought this was Celestine V. Most modern experts also agree. However, Petrarch strongly defended Celestine. He said Celestine's resignation was a good example of choosing a simple life. Some scholars also think Dante might have meant someone else.

In 1346, Petrarch wrote that Celestine's choice to step down was a good example of living a solitary life.

Pope Celestine V is also mentioned in Dan Brown's book Angels & Demons. The book suggests he was murdered. It claims an X-ray of his tomb showed a nail in his skull. However, this X-ray story is made up. While some people have claimed Celestine was murdered, possibly by Boniface VIII, there is no real historical proof.

Celestine V's life has been made into plays. These include L'avventura di un povero cristiano (The Story of a Humble Christian) by Ignazio Silone in 1968. Another is Sunsets and Glories by Peter Barnes in 1990. He is also the subject of a short story called Brother of the Holy Ghost.

Stefania Del Monte wrote a book about him in 2009. It was called Celestino V. Papa Templare o Povero Cristiano?. It was translated into English as The Story and Legacy of Celestine V in 2010.

A popular history book about him is The Pope Who Quit: A True Medieval Tale of Mystery, Death, and Salvation. It was written by Jon M. Sweeney in 2012. In 2013, HBO bought the rights to make a movie about it.

Finally, Celestine V is the subject of a poem. It is called "Che Fece...Il Gran Rifiuto" by the modern Greek poet Constantine P. Cavafy.

See also

In Spanish: Celestino V para niños

• Illiterate popes
• List of Catholic saints
• List of popes