‹ The Popes
18th Roman Pontiff
St Pontian
PONTIANVS
17th Successor of St Peter · 230–235 · Rome · b. Roma, Italia, Roman Empire
230
Elected
235
Reign ended
5 years
Length
3rd
Century
The Life
Roman citizen. Feast day 13 August. First to abdicate due to his exile to Sardinia by Emperor Maximinus Thrax. The Liberian Catalogue recorded his exile on 28 September 235, the earliest exact date in papal history. Also revered as a saint in Eastern Christianity, with the same feast day.
Portrait: Spinello Aretino / Wikimedia Commons