A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

8. PAPA, succeeded Cornelius as bishop of Rome according to Baronius in A. D. 255, but according to Pagi and Pearson in A. D. 252. According to Baronius he was born at Rome, and his father was named Porphyrius. Of his history previous to his pontificate little more is known than that he was one of the presbyters who accompanied his predecessor into exile when he was banished by the emperor Gallus to Centum Cellae, now Civita Vecchia. [CORNELIUS.] Lucius himself was banished a short time after his election, but soon obtained leave to return. His return was about the end of the year 252, or early in the year 253 (256 according to Baronius), and he could not have long survived it, as his whole pontificate was only of six or eight months, perhaps even shorter than that. He died, not as Baronius states, in A. D. 257, but in A. D. 253, being, according to some accounts, martyred by decapitation. The manner of his death is, however, very doubtful. (Euseb. Hist. Eccl. 7.2; Cyprian. Epistol. 61, 68, ed. Fell. 58, 67, ed. Pamelii; Pearson, Annal. Cyprian. ad ann. 252, 253; Baronius, Annal. ad ann. 255, 256, 257, 258; Pagi, Critice in Baronium ; Tillemont, Mémoires, vol. iv. p. 118, &c.)