What positions has Pope Pontian held?

Positions held by Pope Pontian include: Pope (0230–0235).

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Pope Pontian

Pope

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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.

Quick facts

Place of birth: Rome wd
Died: October 235 wd
Place of death: Tavolara Island wd
Occupation: Catholic priest wd

Positions held wd

Pope (21 July 230 – 28 September 235)

About

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.

Questions

What positions has Pope Pontian held?: Positions held by Pope Pontian include: Pope (0230–0235).

Sources

Last updated 3 November 2026 · facts checked 6 November 2026

Cite this page

"Pope Pontian". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/pope-pontian. Retrieved 7 November 2026.

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Text from the Wikipedia article Pope Pontian, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: 18-St.Pontian.jpg — Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain.

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