At the age of 17 he became a Benedictine monk before deciding to embrace the life of a hermit. He began to accept disciples whom he informed into a religious congregation knowing initially as the Hermits of St.Damian, then as the Poor Hermits of Celestine.

Amazingly and against his own wishes he was made Pope Celestine V in 1292. He was almost eighty years, saintly but totally unworldly. King Charles II of Naples used Celestine as a pawn and was in effect ruling the Church in his own interests. Poor Pope Celestine had little idea what was being done in his name. The cardinals now regretted their choice and Peter himself wanted to resign. The question was could he? It had never been done before so a commission of theologians and canon lawyers was set up to study the case. He did resign putting it down to poor health, desire for solitude and lack of knowledge and experience as reasons.