A collection of popes who have had violent deaths through the centuries. The circumstances have ranged from martyrdom to war, to a beating by a jealous husband. A number of other popes have died under circumstances that some believe to be murder, but for which definitive evidence has not been found.
Pope Pontian 230-235, condemned to mines in Sardinia and died on island of Tavolara
Pope Anterus Elected 235-12-21, martyred at hands of Emperor Maximus
Pope Fabian Elected 236-1-10 and died a martyr during persecution and Decapitated by Decius.
Pope Cornelius Elected March 251 and died a martyr June 253.
Pope Lucius I Elected 253-6-25 and martyred 254-3-5.
Pope Stephen I Elected 254-5-12 and martyred 257-8-2.
Pope Sixtus II Elected 257-8-30 and martyred 258-8-6.
Pope Dionysius Elected 259-7-22 after year of persecutions and died 268-12-26, martyred
Pope Felix I Elected 269-1-5 and died 274-12-30, martyred
Pope Eutychian Elected 275-1-4 and martyred 283-12-7.
Pope Caius Elected 283-12-17 and martyred 296-4-22, but not at hands of his uncle, Diocletian
Pope Marcellinus Elected 296-6-30 and martyred 304-10-25 during persecution of Diocletian
Pope Marcellus I Elected 308-5-27 after 4-year vacancy and martyred 309-1-16.
Pope Eusebius Elected 309-4-18 and martyred in Sicily 309-8-17.
Pope John I, Elected August 13, 523, during the Ostrogothic occupation of the Italian peninsula. Was sent as an envoy by Ostrogoth king Theodoric to Constantinople. Upon return, Theodoric accused John I of conspiracy with the Byzantine empire. Imprisoned and starved to death on 18 May 526.
Pope Martin I Elected in 649. Died in exile 655-9-16
Murdered popes
John VIII : Allegedly poisoned and then clubbed to death
Stephen VI : Strangled
Leo V : Allegedly strangled
John X : Allegedly smothered with pillow
John XII : Allegedly murdered by the jealous husband of the woman with whom he was in bed
Benedict VI : Strangled
John XIV : Either by starvation, ill-treatment or direct murder
Clement II : Allegedly poisoned
Celestine V : Allegedly murdered while in post-abdication captivity; allegations blame his successor, Pope Boniface VIII
Boniface VIII : Allegedly died from the effects of ill-treatment one month before
Dubious
Pope Hyginus ; martyrdom
Pope Pius I , martyred by the sword according to old sources; Claim of martyrdom removed from the 1969 General Roman Calendar after recent revisions
