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St. Pontianus ends his reign as Catholic Pope

Pope Pontian (Latin: Pontianus; died October 235) was the bishop of Rome from 21 July 230 to 28 September 235.

Pope Pontian (Latin: Pontianus; died October 235) was the bishop of Rome from 21 July 230 to 28 September 235. 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. 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.

Historical Significance

Pope Pontian (Latin: Pontianus; died October 235) was the bishop of Rome from 21 July 230 to 28 September 235.

Events Before

  1. St Pontianus begins his reign as Catholic Pope

    St Pontianus begins his reign as Catholic Pope

Events After

  1. Reign of St Anterus as Catholic Pope ends with his death after only 40 days

    Reign of St Anterus as Catholic Pope ends with his death after only 40 days

  2. Fabian begins his reign as Catholic Pope

    The pope is the bishop of Rome and the head of the worldwide Catholic Church. He is also known as the supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff.

  3. Gordian I and his son Gordian II are proclaimed co-emperors by the Roman Senate

    Gordian III (Latin: Marcus Antonius Gordianus; 20 January 225 – 11 February 244) was Roman emperor from 238 to 244.

  4. The Roman Senate and Praetorian Guard proclaim 13-year-old Gordian III as Emperor - the youngest-ever emperor of a unite

    The Roman Senate and Praetorian Guard proclaim 13-year-old Gordian III as Emperor - the youngest-ever emperor of a united Rome [1]

  5. BC First recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet

    Halley's Comet is the only known short-period comet that is consistently visible to the naked eye from Earth, appearing every 72–80 years, though with the majority of recorded apparitions (25 of 30)…

More from the 230s

Reign of St Anterus as Catholic Pope ends with his death after only 40 days

Reign of St Anterus as Catholic Pope ends with his death after only 40 days

Fabian begins his reign as Catholic Pope

The pope is the bishop of Rome and the head of the worldwide Catholic Church. He is also known as the supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff.

Gordian I and his son Gordian II are proclaimed co-emperors by the Roman Senate

Gordian III (Latin: Marcus Antonius Gordianus; 20 January 225 – 11 February 244) was Roman emperor from 238 to 244.

St Pontianus begins his reign as Catholic Pope

St Pontianus begins his reign as Catholic Pope

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on September 29, 235?
Pope Pontian (Latin: Pontianus; died October 235) was the bishop of Rome from 21 July 230 to 28 September 235. 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.
Why is St. Pontianus ends his reign as Catholic Pope significant?
Pope Pontian (Latin: Pontianus; died October 235) was the bishop of Rome from 21 July 230 to 28 September 235.

Explore More

September 29 in HistoryYear 235