St. Marcellus I

Marcellus became pope around 308, after a gap of nearly four years following the death or disappearance of Marcellinus. The Church he inherited was in chaos. Many Christians had lapsed during Diocletian's persecution, and the question of how to readmit them divided the community bitterly. Marcellus insisted on serious public penance, which angered the lapsed who wanted easy readmission. The disputes turned violent enough that Emperor Maxentius exiled Marcellus for disturbing the peace. He died in exile in 309. His reign lasted barely a year, but it set the terms for how the Roman Church would handle the aftermath of the Great Persecution.