Cornelius of Rome

The holy Hieromartyr Cornelius of Rome was bishop of Rome from 251 to 253. He governed the Church after the persecution of Decius, in a time of great disturbance, and died in exile.

Election

After the martyrdom of Saint Fabian the see of Rome stood vacant for more than a year because of the persecution. In March 251 Cornelius, a Roman priest, was elected, unwillingly. He is counted as the twenty-⁠first bishop of Rome.

The matter of the fallen

The question was how to receive those who, out of fear of torments, had sacrificed to idols. Cornelius, in agreement with Saint Cyprian of Carthage, taught that they could be received back after fitting penance. The priest Novatian rejected any forgiveness for the fallen and had himself consecrated bishop against Cornelius. A synod of sixty bishops at Rome confirmed Cornelius's election and excommunicated Novatian (the Romanian Wikipedia says seventy).

His letters, preserved by Eusebius, show how large the Church of Rome was: forty-⁠six priests, seven deacons, seven subdeacons, forty-⁠two acolytes, fifty-⁠two doorkeepers and other ministers, and over fifteen hundred widows and needy persons fed. From these figures it has been estimated that at least fifty thousand Christians lived in Rome.

Exile

Under Emperor Trebonianus Gallus the persecution resumed, and Cornelius was exiled to Centumcellae, today Civitavecchia, where he died in June 253. Saint Cyprian calls him a martyr, and his tomb in the Catacomb of Callixtus bears the Latin inscription "Cornelius Martyr". The Church commemorates him on 16 September, together with Saint Cyprian. His head is venerated at Kornelimünster Abbey near Aachen.