CNN
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Like other rituals and traditions that accompany the emergence of the new pope, his newly chosen name has been ingrained in Catholic history over the centuries, and is analyzed for its many meanings.
Changing his name was one of the first actions the new Pope takes as head of the Roman Catholic Church, and could play a very symbolic role in setting the tone of his Pope.
It is a precedent set in the early Middle Ages, and although there is no doctrinal reason for the Pope to choose a new name, it has become part of the election process.
So how does this tradition mean, what is the meaning behind the names of the various popes, what names can the next pope choose, and how will it be announced?
Saint Peter, the first Pope and one of the 12 apostles, was renamed by Jesus from Simon’s birth name, before he became head of the church.
Another 500 years pass before Pope John II, the head of the church between the ages of 533 and 535, began the Pope tradition when he abandoned the name Mercurius.
The next pope who changed his name was Peter Canepanova in the 10th century. He became John XIV to avoid being called Peter II (more details below), said Liam Temple, an assistant professor of Catholic History at the Centre for Catholic Studies at Durham University.
From the 10th century onwards, popes from countries such as France and Germany adopted more Italian names to mimic their predecessors, so taking another name made the pope more common practice when they were elected.
And it became a custom, and only a handful of Popes held the name of the baptism, including Marcellus II and Adrian VI, who headed the church in the 16th century.
Each name is ingrained in its own history and meaning, linked to the achievements and failures of the previous Popes and saints who carried it.
“It’s not always possible to overcome the crisis, influence reform, or link to the names of previous popes that were incredibly popular, but often play a role in name choice,” Temple told CNN.
Pope Francis, for example, chose his Pope name to honor Saint Francis of Assisi with his love for peace and nature, caring for the poor and focused on cooperation between various denominations in the Church. These associations established the priorities of Francis’s Pope See.
His predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, chose his Pope name to show his commitment to peace and reconciliation by honouring St. Benedict and Pope Benedict XV, who were the church presidents during World War I, Temple said.
One name that the new Pope will undoubtedly adopt is because of a prophecy that centuries ago would be the last pope to serve, from respecting the first Pope, the Apostle St. Peter.
There are other names that are not necessarily off limits, but are unlikely to be chosen for their relationship with the latest Pope who gave birth to them, Temple said.
He identifies the city’s name as a candidate for the new Pope because he “started the trial of Galileo Galilei and fails to sit well in modern discussions about science, faith and religion.”
Similarly, the name Pius would evoke the memories of Pius XII, whose role during World War II is increasingly criticised, Temple added.
If the new Pope wants to continue the path of reform, Temple said that names like Leo are innocent referring to Leo XIII, known for their dedication to social justice, fair wages and safe working conditions, or to innocent XIII, who attempted to eradicate corruption.
Like Pope Francis, a new Pope elected from the Global South may choose names adopted by the early non-Italian gates such as Gerasius, Miltiades, and Victor, who were welcomed from the African continent, Temple added.
For centuries, the names of 44 popes have been used only once. Recently, Pope Francis himself was named.
His decision to choose a unique name stated that “large historical influence” has been “about a century or 100 years since he was last named the unique Pope in the form of the Pope Rand, which lasted less than a year in the 10th century.”
John is the most popular name, and 21 Popes have chosen to adopt it. However, the last Pope to take that name was John XXIII after the historian accidentally inhabited the Pope after John XIII.
Gregory and Benedict are also popular pontyphical names with 16 and 15 uses, respectively. Meanwhile, Innocent and Leo are lagging behind with 13 use each. (There is a contradiction of Benedict’s numbering after that, as Benedict X was declared anti-pope and exiled from the Pope’s throne.)
After white smoke rises from the chimney of Sistine Chapel and the bell of St. Peter, the newly elected Pope’s name is conveyed to the world in a Latin declaration.
The Senior Cardinal, accompanied by two priests, steps into the central balcony of St. Peter’s Cathedral, conveys the iconic announcement “Havem Spapam” (“We Have a Pope”).
The new Pope’s name and his baptismal name will be translated into Latin in the announcement, but his previous surname will remain in his native language.
For example, when Pope Francis was elected in 2013, the given name of “Jorge Mario” was distributed as “Giorgio Marium”, but his surname “Bergolio” remained the same.
His Pope’s name was published as “Francisco” and, as customarily, was the final word in the declaration.
