Pontian

Who they were

Pontian, of the noble Roman family of the Calpurnii, was elected Pope on 21 July 230. The Church was at peace outside but divided within by the schism of the priest Hippolytus, elected antipope, who objected to the ease with which Rome forgave the lapsed.

When the emperor Maximinus Thrax renewed persecution, he exiled both Pontian and Hippolytus to the mines of Sardinia. So that the see would not stay empty, Pontian resigned the papacy in favour of Anterus. His humility led Hippolytus to be reconciled with him. Both died after a few months of forced labour and were honoured as martyrs; Pope Fabian later brought Pontian's body to the crypt of the popes on the Via Appia.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: Pontian and Hippolytus have been honoured as martyrs since the third century. They share the memorial of 13 August.

Why that counted as sanctity

Pontian gave up the papacy for the good of the Church, and by his humility in the mines brought an antipope back to unity before both died for Christ.