Celestine

Celestine was the name of five popes, the first of whom filled St Peter's chair in 422-432 (see POPE). The most notable was the Neapolitan Peter di Morrone, who after a long life of ascetic severities was much against his will elected pope as Celestine V. in 1294, when he was nearly eighty years of age. He resigned his office after five months—'the great refusal,' for making which he is placed by Dante at the entrance of hell. He was imprisoned by his successor, Boniface VIII., and died in 1296. He was founder of the Celestines, and was canonised in 1313.