Saint Pontian
Saint Pontian (born, Rome [Italy]—died c. 236, Sardinia; feast day August 13) was the pope, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, from 230 to 235. Many historians of the church think that Pontian was the first pope to abdicate, and the date of his resignation is noted as the first specific date in papal history.
Pontian summoned the Roman synod that confirmed the condemnation of Origen, one of the chief theologians of the early Greek Church. At the beginning of the persecution of Christians under the Roman emperor Maximinus in 235, Pontian was exiled to the mines of Sardinia with St. Hippolytus, who had opposed both St. Urban I, who was pope from 222 to 230, and Pontian.
While sharing their exile, Pontian and Hippolytus became reconciled. On September 28, 235, Pontian resigned as pope and was succeeded by St. Anterus. Pontian died a short while afterward with Hippolytus. Their deaths are traditionally thought to have been the result of ill treatment. Pontian’s epitaph in the catacomb of St. Calixtus in Rome, which includes an inscription of the date of his resignation, was found in 1909.
