SC 145 ’The Pope who Quit’ St. Celestine V

Prior to Pope Benedict XVI, over 700 years ago, one man resigned the papacy at age 84 and was canonized a saint a short while later. Peter Angelerio, otherwise known as Pope Celestine V was a saintly monk who was chosen pope in 1294, only to resign a short 5 months later, dying a prisoner of the next man to hold the Chair of Peter in a prison at Fumone.  On this SaintCast we interview author and historian Jon Sweeney, who authored a biography of Celestine V, "The Pope Who Quit," in 2012.  He describes the difficult political and ecclesial situation in the late 13th century, the dilemma in which Celestine found himself, and the reason he believes he was truly a saintly occupant of the papal office.