Pontian | |
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Bishop of Rome | |
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Church | Early Church |
Papacy began | 21 July 230 |
Papacy ended | 28 September 235 |
Predecessor | Urban I |
Successor | Anterus |
Personal details | |
Died | October 235 Sardinia, Roman Empire |
Sainthood | |
Feast day |
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Venerated in | Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church |
Pope Pontian (Latin: Pontianus; died October 235) was the bishop of Rome from 21 July 230 to 28 September 235.[1] In 235, during the persecution of Christians in the reign of the Emperor Maximinus Thrax, Pontian was arrested and sent to the island of Sardinia.
He abdicated to make the election of a new pope possible.[1] Resigning on 28 September 235, he was the first pope to do so. This allowed an orderly transition in the Church of Rome and so ended a schism that had existed in the Church for eighteen years. Some accounts say he was beaten to death only weeks after his arrival on Sardinia.
Pontian is venerated as a saint in both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.