Election of Pope Boniface VIII

Date: December 24, 1294 • Location: Rome, Italy

Pope Boniface VIII is elected, replacing St. Celestine V, who had resigned.

Pope Boniface VIII was head of the Catholic Church and leader of the Papal States from 24 December 1294 until his death in 1303. The Caetani family was of baronial origin with connections to the papacy. He succeeded Pope Celestine V, who had abdicated from the papal throne. Boniface spent his early pontificate abroad in diplomatic roles.