Conversation

Feast of St Celestine V (d May 19 1296) the saintly pope who resolved the tensions between the papal office and the call to holiness by abdicating. It is said that Pope Benedict XVI signaled his intention to resign by laying his pallium at the grave of Celestine.
Image
1
18
Unlike Celestine, Benedict was allowed to retire on the Vatican grounds. The unhappy Celestine was imprisoned by his successor, Boniface VIII, a cruel autocrat whose character in every sense contrasted with his predecessor. Celestine remained imprisoned until his death.