Pietro Angeleri, a Benedictine monk, was
born in 1215, the eleventh of twelve children of a peasant family in
Isernia, Italy. At first Pope Celestine V
refused the papacy (his internal struggle is described in Ignazio Silone's
book, The Adventure of a Poor Christian) because he liked the
hermit life of a monk.
Pope Celestine
V was elected pope on July 5, 1294, and abdicated on December
13, 1294, because Pope Celestine V did not like having power
over others. He felt power was a temptation which could lead to
corruption.
After his abdication, Pope Celestine V intended to return to the
monestery, but instead was arrested by his successor, Pope Boniface VIII,
for fear Pope Celestine V would reclaim the papacy.
Pope Celestine
V died in prison on May 19, 1296. Some say he was
assassinated by Pope
Boniface VIII
