Celestine V, the first pope to willingly abdicate, was once known as Peter of Morrone, a man who preferred to live as a hermit. Jon Sweeney, author of the book "The Pope Who Quit," explains that although many saw his abdication negatively, Celestine's refusal was ultimately an act of humility. "It wasn't an act of cowardice, it actually was an act of enlightenment," Sweeney said. "It was an act of deciding to be a faithful follower of Christ."
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