List of popes who died violently
Several Roman Catholic popes had violent deaths. The circumstances have ranged from martyrdom (Pope Stephen I)[1] to war (Lucius II),[2] to a beating by a jealous husband (Pope John XII). A number of other popes have died under circumstances that some believe to be murder, but for which definitive evidence has not been found.
Martyr popes
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In tradition, the first pope, Saint Peter, was crucified upside-down.
- Saint Peter (c.67), traditionally martyred by crucifixion[3]
- Pope Linus (Saint) (c.67-c.76)[4][5]
- Pope Anacletus or Cletus (Saint) (c.79-c.92)[6][4]
- Pope Clement I (Saint) (c.92-c.99), thrown into sea with anchor around his neck[4]
- Pope Evaristus (c.99-c.108);[4][5] not listed in the Roman Martyrology
- Pope Alexander I (Saint) (c.106-c.119);[4][5] recognition as the martyred Saint Alexander (feast day May 3) rescinded in 1960
- Pope Sixtus I (Saint) (c.119-c.128)[4][5]
- Pope Telesphorus (Saint) (c.128-c.138)[4][7]
- Pope Hyginus (Saint) (c.138-c.142);[4] martyrdom dubious[8]
- Pope Pius I (Saint) (c.142-c.154), martyred by the sword;[9] claim of martyrdom removed from the 1969 General Roman Calendar[10]
- Pope Anicetus (Saint) (155-166), traditionally martyred.[4]
- Pope Soter (Saint) (166-175), died a martyr [4]
- Pope Eleuterus (Saint) (175-189), died a martyr [4]
- Pope Victor I (Saint) 189-199, died a martyr [4]
- Pope Calixtus I (Saint) (217-222), died a martyr [4]
- Pope Urban I (Saint) 222-230, died a martyr [4]
- Pope Pontian (Saint) 230-235, condemned to mines in Sardinia and died on island of Tavolara[4]
- Pope Anterus (Saint) Elected 235-12-21, martyred at hands of Emperor Maximus [4]
- Pope Fabian (Saint) Elected 236-1-10 and died a martyr 250-1-20 during persecution by Decius[4]
- Pope Cornelius (Saint) Elected March 251 and died a martyr June 253.[4]
- Pope Lucius I (Saint) Elected 253-6-25 and martyred 254-3-5.[4]
- Pope Stephen I (Saint) Elected 254-5-12 and martyred 257-8-2.[4][1]
- Pope Sixtus II (Saint) Elected 257-8-30 and martyred 258-8-6.[4]
- Pope Dionysius (Saint) Elected 259-7-22 after year of persecutions and died 268-12-26, martyred [4]
- Pope Felix I (Saint) Elected 269-1-5 and died 274-12-30, martyred [4]
- Pope Eutychian (Saint) Elected 275-1-4 and martyred 283-12-7. [4]
- Pope Caius (Saint) Elected 283-12-17 and martyred 296-4-22, but not at hands of his uncle, Diocletian [4]
- Pope Marcellinus (Saint) Elected 296-6-30 and martyred 304-10-25 during persecution of Diocletian [4]
- Pope Marcellus I (Saint) Elected 308-5-27 after 4-year vacancy and martyred 309-1-16.[4]
- Pope Eusebius (Saint) Elected 309-4-18 and martyred in Sicily 309-8-17. [4][11]
- Pope Martin I (Saint) Elected in 649. Died in exile 655-9-16
Murdered popes
- John VIII (872–882): Allegedly poisoned and then clubbed to death[12]
- Stephen VI (896–897): Strangled[13]
- Leo V (903): Allegedly strangled[14]
- John X (914–928): Allegedly smothered with pillow[15]
- Benedict VI (973–974): Strangled[16]
- John XIV (983–984): Either by starvation, ill-treatment or direct murder[17]
- Clement II (1046–1047): Allegedly poisoned[18]
- Celestine V (1294, died 1296): Allegedly murdered while in post-abdication captivity; allegations blame his successor, Pope Boniface VIII[19]
- Boniface VIII (1294–1303): Allegedly (though unlikely) from the effects of ill-treatment one month before[20]
- John Paul I (1978): Death 33 days after Papal election led to conspiracy theories[21]
See also
References
- 1 2 Jacobus de Voragine; William Granger Ryan. The golden legend: readings on the saints. Princeton University Press. p. 39.
- ↑ Foul Play Suspected in Popes Death? Baltimore Afro-American - October 10, 1978
- ↑ Kirsch, Johann Peter (1911), "St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles", Catholic Encyclopedia, 11, New York: Robert Appleton Company, retrieved 2013-06-03
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 I Sommi Pontifici Romani
- 1 2 3 4 Liber Pontificalis
- ↑ Annuario Pontificio
- ↑ First pope listed as a martyr by Irenaeus' Against Heresies
- ↑ Kirsch, Johann Peter (1911), "Pope St. Hyginus", Catholic Encyclopedia, 7, New York: Robert Appleton Company, retrieved 2013-06-03
- ↑ Butler, Alban (1866). "July 11: St. Pius I., Pope and Martyr". The Lives of the Saints. 7. Dublin: James Duffy. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
- ↑ "Calendarium Romanum" (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1969), p. 129
- ↑ Catholic Encyclopedia: Pope St. Eusebius
- ↑ Mann, H. (1910). Pope John VIII. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved February 14, 2010 from New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08423c.htm
- ↑ Pope Stephen (VI) VII New Advent.org
- ↑ Pope Leo V NewAdvent.org
- ↑ Pope John X NewAdvent.org
- ↑ Pope Benedict VI New Advent.org
- ↑ Pope John XIV NewAdvent.org
- ↑ Pope Clement II NewAdvent.org
- ↑ "Pope Celestine V". List of Roman Catholic Popes. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
- ↑ Pope Boniface VIII NewAdvent.org
- ↑ Yallop, David A. In God's Name: An Investigation into the Murder of Pope John Paul I. Toronto: Bantam Books, 1984. ISBN 978-0-553-05073-8.
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