He was elected pope on either March 6 or March 13, 251 during the lull in the persecution of the Roman EmperorDecius. His election was opposed by Novatian, who maintained the view that not even the bishops could grant remission for grave sins like murder, adultery, and apostasy, but that these could only be remitted at the Last Judgment; Cornelius on the contrary believed that bishops could grant remission for these grave sins. With the help of St. Cyprian, his party prevailed and he was elected pope. Novatian fled Rome, but his followers organized into a sect considered heretical by the rest of Christianity (Novatianists).
In Cyprian's writings supporting Cornelius, it appears that the Roman church of the time had 155 clergy and supported through its efforts some 1500 widows and poor (Brown 1987 p 270).
After ruling for two years, under the emperor Trebonianus Gallus, he was exiled to Centuricellae (Civita Vecchia), where he died. He died in June 253.
He is commemorated with Cyprian on September 16, which is not, however the anniversary of his death.
In iconography, Cornelius’ attribute was the horn (in reference to the Latin origin of his name –from “cornu,” “horn”).[1] This could be either a battle horn or cow's horn.[2]
Some of his relics were taken to Germany during the Middle Ages; his head was claimed by Kornelimünster Abbey near Aachen.[3] In the Rhineland, he was also a patron saint of lovers.[4] A legend associated with Cornelius tells of a young artist who was commissioned to decorate the Corneliuskapelle in the Selikum quarter of Neuss. The daughter of a local townsman fell in love with the artist, but her father forbid the marriage, remarking that he would only consent if the Pope in Rome did. Miraculously, the statue of Cornelius leaned forward from the altar and blessed the pair. The two lovers were thus married.[5]
He was also a patron saint of farmers and of cattle, and was invoked against epilepsy, cramps, afflictions associated with the nerves and ears.[10]
A legend told at Carnac states that its stones were once pagan soldiers who had been turned into stone by Pope Cornelius, who was fleeing from them.[11][12]
