Pontian pope

Elected in 230, Pontian governed the Roman Church for five years, until the emperor Maximinus Thrax decided to strike at the Christian leaders. Condemned to the mines of Sardinia — the "deadly island" from which none returned — he did what no pope had done before: he resigned, on 28 September 235, so that Rome might elect a free successor. The date of his abdication is the first fact in papal history dated to the day. He died under the blows alongside Hippolytus, with whom he had been reconciled, and Pope Fabian had their bodies brought back to Rome.