After the martyrdom of Saint Marcellinus I in AD304, the See of Peter remained vacant for around three years. Religious persecution under the reign of the Emperor Diocletian not only left the Church in huge losses, it also created internal rifts and divisions within the Church.

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The elders of the Church had no other choice but to delay choosing a successor to Saint Marcellinus. In AD308, after about three and a half years, Pope Marcellus was chosen as the the thirtieth Successor of Saint Peter.

One of the biggest pastoral problem Pope Marcellus encountered was the status of the apostate Christians during the persecution of Emperor Diocletian. Pope Marcellus took measures to bring them back to the Church. However, he suggested that these parishioners must go through rigorous and intense remedial process and state publicly their past actions.

Such a proposal created an internal rife in the church. The unrest created by the suggestion was so immense that it created conflicts in the community and the Church that gave rise to bloodsheds.

The worsening atmosphere and public sentiments against Pope Marcellus grew so strong that the parishioners sought the assistance of the then Emperor. Maxentius the emperor stepped in claiming to be a mediator.

However, the emperor instead had the pope exiled from Rome. While in forced exile, Pope Mercellus passed away on 16th January AD309 owing to the ill treatment and forced labour. His physical remains were brought to Rome later on and buried in Cemetery of Priscilla.
-edit&transl. SM

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