Much of the interest in the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI was to compare and contrast his action to that of the only previous pope to resign, Celestine V. The treatment of Celestine was largely overlooked by the popular media, and, doubtless, the faithful. (See Hermitary article: http://www.hermitary.com/articles/celestine.html)
A recent Discovery news item relates that, no, Celestine was not murdered. Reading the events surrounding the last years of Celestine’s life suggests that the cause of his death is not as relevant as this news source suggests, but remains of antiquarian interest.
URL: http://news.discovery.com/history/religion/medieval-hermit-pope-not-murdered-as-believed-130507.htm