In 1292, after the cardinals failed to elect a new pope for over two years, hermit Pietro da Morrone wrote to them that God’s fury would be upon them if they don’t elect a pope soon. Promptly they elected Morrone as a compromise, who became Celestine V. Less than half a year later, realizing that he was unfit for the office, Celestine legalized his own abdication and resigned. His successor was Boniface VIII, Dante’s nemesis, who locked Celestine up after a short chase, since some questioned the validity of his abdication and might use the fact to undermine the new pope.
Because his abdication precipitated Boniface’s ascension, in the *Commedia*, Dante put Celestine V in the foyer of Hell where those who displeased both God and the Devil—because they chose neither good nor evil—dwell and are stung by wasps and bees for eternity.
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Context: [The Great Refusal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_refusal)
In 1292, after the cardinals failed to elect a new pope for over two years, hermit Pietro da Morrone wrote to them that God’s fury would be upon them if they don’t elect a pope soon. Promptly they elected Morrone as a compromise, who became Celestine V. Less than half a year later, realizing that he was unfit for the office, Celestine legalized his own abdication and resigned. His successor was Boniface VIII, Dante’s nemesis, who locked Celestine up after a short chase, since some questioned the validity of his abdication and might use the fact to undermine the new pope.
Because his abdication precipitated Boniface’s ascension, in the *Commedia*, Dante put Celestine V in the foyer of Hell where those who displeased both God and the Devil—because they chose neither good nor evil—dwell and are stung by wasps and bees for eternity.
Solid meme, good explanation