CELESTINE V. (St. Peter Celestine), pope in 1294, was born of poor parents at Isernia about 1215, and became a Benedictine. Living as a hermit he attracted other ascetics whom he organized into a congregation of the Benedictines which was later called the Celestines (q.v.). His Opuscula (Naples, 1640) are probably not genuine. A fight between the Colonna and the Orsini, as well as dissensions among the cardinals, prevented a papal election for over two years after the death of Nicholas IV. Finally, Celes tine was elected on July 5, 1294. Apocalyptic notions then cur rent doubtless aided his election, for Joachim of Floris and his school looked to monasticism to deliver the church and the world. Multitudes came to Celestine's coronation and he began his reign the idol of visionaries, of extremists and of the populace. But the pope was in the power of Charles II. of Naples, and became his tool against Aragon. When he wished to abdicate, Benedetto Gaetano, destined to succeed him as Boniface VIII., removed all scruples against this unheard of procedure by finding a precedent in the case of Clement I. Celestine abdicated on Dec. 13, 1294, and died in a monastic cell in the castle of Fumone on May 19, 1296. He was canonized by Clement V. in 1313.
See Herzog-Hauck, Realencyklopiidie; Jean Aurelien, La Vie admir able de . . . Saint Pierre Celestin (Bar-le-Duc, 1873) ; H. Finke, Aus den Tagen Bonifaz VIII. (Munster, 1902).