A collection of popes have had violent deaths through the centuries. The circumstances have ranged from martyrdom (Pope Stephen I)^[1] to war (Lucius II),^[2] to a beating by a jealous husband (Pope John XII). A number of other popes have died under circumstances that some believe to be murder, but for which definitive evidence has not been found.

Martyr popes

• Saint Peter (c. 67), traditionally martyred by upside-down crucifixion^[3]
• Pope Linus (Saint) (c. 67 – c. 76)^[4][5]
• Pope Anacletus or Cletus (Saint) (c. 79 – c. 92)^[6][4]
• Pope Clement I (Saint) (c. 92 – c. 99), thrown into sea with anchor around his neck^[4]
• Pope Evaristus (c. 99 – c. 108),^[4][5] not listed in the Roman Martyrology but executed^[7]
• Pope Sixtus I (Saint) (c. 119 – c. 128)^[4][5]
• Pope Telesphorus (Saint) (c. 128 – c. 138)^[4][8]
• Pope Anicetus (Saint) (155–166), traditionally martyred^[4]
• Pope Soter (Saint) (166–175), died a martyr ^[4]
• Pope Eleuterus (Saint) (175–189), died a martyr^[4]
• Pope Victor I (Saint) 189–199, died a martyr^[4]
• Pope Calixtus I (Saint) (217–222), died a martyr^[4]
• Pope Urban I (Saint) 222–230, died a martyr^[4]
• Pope Pontian (Saint) 230–235, condemned to mines in Sardinia and died on island of Tavolara^[4]
• Pope Anterus (Saint), elected 21 November 235, martyred at hands of Emperor Maximus^[4]
• Pope Fabian (Saint), elected 10 January 236 and died a martyr during persecution and decapitated by Decius^[4]
• Pope Cornelius (Saint), elected March 251 and died a martyr June 253^[4]
• Pope Lucius I (Saint), elected 25 June 253 and martyred 5 March 254^[4]
• Pope Stephen I (Saint), elected 12 May 254 and martyred 2 August 257^[4][1]
• Pope Sixtus II (Saint), elected 30 August 257 and martyred 6 August 258^[4]
• Pope Dionysius (Saint), elected 22 July 259 after year of persecutions and died 26 December 268, martyred^[4]
• Pope Felix I (Saint), elected 5 January 269 and died 30 December 274, martyred^[4]
• Pope Eutychian (Saint), elected 4 January 275 and martyred 7 December 283^[4]
• Pope Caius (Saint), elected 17 December 283 and martyred 22 April 296 but not at hands of his uncle Diocletian^[4]
• Pope Marcellinus (Saint), elected 30 June 296 and martyred 25 October 10 during persecution of Diocletian^[4]
• Pope Marcellus I (Saint), elected 27 May 308 after 4-year vacancy and martyred 16 January 309^[4]
• Pope Eusebius (Saint), elected 18 April 309 and martyred in Sicily 17 August 309.^[4][9]
• Pope John I (Saint), elected 13 August 523, during the Ostrogothic occupation of the Italian peninsula. Was sent as an envoy by Ostrogoth king Theodoric the Great to Constantinople. Upon return, Theodoric accused John I of conspiracy with the Byzantine empire. Imprisoned and starved to death on 18 May 526.^[4]
• Pope Martin I (Saint) Elected in 649. Died in exile 16 September 655.

Murdered popes

• John VIII (872–882), allegedly poisoned and then clubbed to death^[10]
• Stephen VI (896–897), strangled^[11]
• Leo V (903), allegedly strangled^[12]
• John X (914–928), allegedly smothered with a pillow^[13]
• John XII (955–964), allegedly murdered by the jealous husband of the woman with whom he was in bed^[14]
• Benedict VI (973–974), strangled^[15]
• John XIV (983–984), died either by starvation, ill-treatment or direct murder^[16]

Dubious

• Pope Alexander I (Saint) (c. 106 – c. 119),^[4][5] recognition as the martyred Saint Alexander (feast day May 3) rescinded in 1960
• Pope Hyginus (Saint) (c. 138 – c. 142),^[4] martyrdom^[17]
• Pope Pius I (Saint) (c. 142 – c. 154), martyred by the sword according to old sources.^[18] Claim of martyrdom removed from the 1969 General Roman Calendar after recent revisions.^[19]
• Clement II (1046–1047), allegedly poisoned^[20]
• Celestine V (1294–1296), allegedly murdered while in post-abdication captivity. Allegations blame his successor, Pope Boniface VIII.^[21]
• Boniface VIII (1294–1303), Was in conflict with Philip IV of France and allegedly (though unlikely) died from the effects of ill-treatment one month before.^[22]