Why do popes change their names?

ROME, Metropolitan Metropolis of Rome Capital — Cardinal Robert Prevost, a missionary who spent his profession ministering in Peru and leads the Vatican’s highly effective workplace of bishops, was elected the primary American pope within the 2,000-year historical past of the Catholic Church.

Prevost, 69, took the identify Leo XIV.

The announcement “Habemus Papam” — “We’ve got a pope” — from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica is adopted first by the revelation of the brand new pontiff’s baptismal identify, in Latin, adopted by his papal identify, wrought with that means.

For a lot of the Catholic Church’s first millennium, popes used their given names. The primary exception was the sixth century Roman Mercurius, who had been named for a pagan god and selected the extra acceptable identify of John II.

The observe of adopting a brand new identify turned ingrained through the eleventh century, a interval of German popes who selected names of early church bishops out of “a want to indicate continuity,” stated the Rev. Roberto Regoli, a historian at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian College.

For a lot of centuries, new popes tended to decide on the identify of the pope who had elevated them to cardinal. John was the preferred, chosen by 23 popes, adopted by Benedict and Gregory, every with 16.

Solely beginning within the mid-Twentieth century did new popes start to decide on names signaling the goal of their papacy, Regoli stated.

“Even now, as we’re ready for the brand new pope, the identify with which he’ll current himself will assist us to know the horizon in the direction of which he needs to proceed,” Regoli stated.

Some names have been out of use for hundreds of years, like City or Harmless.

“I don’t suppose anybody will decide Harmless,″ Imperatori-Lee stated, given the abuse and different scandals which have rocked the church. ”I don’t suppose that will be the best alternative.”

FRANCIS: Pope Francis, elected in 2013, took the identify of St. Francis of Assisi, recognized for his humility, lifetime of poverty and love of all creatures. With it, Francis signaled a papacy centered on those that are sometimes seen as outsiders, together with the poor, prisoners and the LGBTQ+ group, whereas selling peace, brotherhood and care of the surroundings.

BENEDICT: Final chosen by German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, elected in 2005. Pope Benedict XVI stated he wished to pay homage to Benedict XV, who led the church throughout World Conflict I and devoted himself to therapeutic the rifts of warfare, and to the sixth century St. Benedict, founding father of Western monasticism, who helped unfold Christianity all through Europe. Considered one of Benedict XVI’s priorities was making an attempt to revive the religion in Europe. “If we get a Benedict, then we’ll know that the cardinals selected to see Francis as an anomaly,” Imperatori-Lee stated.

JOHN PAUL: The papacy’s first composite identify was chosen by Cardinal Albino Luciani in 1978 to honor Pope John XXIII, who opened the Vatican Council II course of that reformed the Catholic Church, and Paul VI, who closed it. The identify signaled a dedication to reforms, together with sidelining the Latin Mass in favor of native languages and opening to different faiths, most importantly Judaism. John Paul I’s papacy lasted simply 33 days. Polish Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, who succeeded him, selected the identify John Paul II.

JOHN: Chosen 23 occasions by popes, most just lately in 1958 by Pope John XXIII. John can seek advice from St. John the Apostle, considered one of Jesus’ 12 apostles and the creator of one of many Gospels, or St. John the Baptist, the prophet who baptized Jesus. “John the XXIII was a pope that nobody anticipated quite a bit from, however had a colossal affect on the church,” Imperatori-Lee stated. ”In order that might be an indication of what they need their hold forth to be like.”

PAUL: Chosen six occasions, most just lately in 1963 by Paul VI. St. Paul the Apostle unfold the teachings of Jesus within the 1st century.

PIUS: It’s related to popes recognized for his or her traditionalist, anti-reform bent. Pius IX ordered the kidnapping of the Jewish boy Edgardo Mortara in 1858 and raised him Catholic within the Vatican after studying he had been secretly baptized by a housekeeper; Pius X was the early Twentieth century anti-modernist who impressed the anti-Vatican II schismatic group, the Society of St. Pius X; Pius XII was the World Conflict II-era pope criticized for not talking out sufficiently in regards to the Holocaust. “It’s now a reputation that’s hostage to some Catholic teams that may be thought-about traditionalists,” Regoli stated.

A brand new pope is free to decide on a reputation by no means used earlier than, as Francis did.

“This may open a brand new season and will imply that his program will not be in step with any of his predecessors, so an much more personalised program,” Regoli stated.

Imperatori-Lee advised one other identify which may sign a continuation of Francis’ legacy: Ignatius, for the founding father of Francis’ Jesuit order.

“It could be attention-grabbing,” she stated. “We have by no means had a kind of.”

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