Pope St. Cornelius

Pope St. Cornelius reigned as bishop of Rome from 251 to 253, in the difficult aftermath of the persecution under the Emperor Decius, which had caused many Christians to lapse from the faith under threat of death. The central question of his pontificate was how to treat these lapsi who now sought to return: Cornelius, supported by St. Cyprian of Carthage, upheld the merciful path, teaching that even those who had fallen could be reconciled to the Church after fitting penance.

His position was fiercely opposed by the rigorist Novatian, who denied any reconciliation to such sinners and had himself set up as a rival, becoming an antipope and provoking a lasting schism. Cornelius firmly defended the Church's authority to forgive. When persecution flared again under Trebonianus Gallus, he was exiled to Centumcellae, where he died in 253; the Church has always venerated him as a martyr for the hardship of his exile. He is celebrated with St. Cyprian on 16 September.