Cardinal Ratzinger to Pope Benedict XVI: How are Papal names chosen?

[Derleth]

The title should just about sum it up: How do popes choose their ‘official’ name (the name they’re best known by while they hold the office) and why have there been 16 Benedicts so far (that is, why are some names reused so often)?

[Dr.Lao]

I believe the new pope picks his own name. As for why names get reused so much, some names are just traditional.

[RealityChuck]

The only restriction seems to be that you can’t choose “Peter.” And you can create a new name: John Paul I (named to honor John XXIII and Paul VI).

[Exapno_Mapcase]

The tradition of choosing a name already used goes back a long, long way. Except for antipopes, it appears the last original name chosen was Romanus in 897.

Except for the John Pauls, no Pope had had a number less than V since Pius IV in 1559.

[Otto]

Where did the notion of choosing a new name originate?

[ElvisL1ves]

Legend has it:

The custome it is of Popes to change their name at their creation; and the Author thereof is commonly said to be Bocca di Porco, or Swines face, who therefore assumed the stile of Sergius the second, as being ashamed so foule a name should dishonour the chaire of Peter;9 wherein notwithstanding from Montacutius and others, I finde there may be some mistake: For Massonus who writ the lives of Popes, acknowledgeth he was not the first that changed his name in that Sea; nor as Platina affirmeth, have all his successours precisely continued that custome; for Adrian the sixt, and Marcellus the second, did still retaine their Baptismall denominations. Nor is it proved, or probable that Sergius changed the name of Bocca di Porco, for this was his sirname or gentilitious appellation; nor was it the custome to alter that with the other; but he commuted his Christian name Peter for Sergius, because he would seem to decline the name of Peter the second. A scruple I confesse not thought considerable in other Seas, whose originalls and first Patriarchs have been lesse disputed; nor yet perhaps of that reallity as to prevaile in points of the same nature. For the names of the Apostles, Patriarchs and Prophets have been assumed even to affectation; the name of Jesus hath not been appropriate, but some in precedent ages have borne that name, and many since have not refused the Christian name of Emanuel. Thus are there few names more frequent then Moses and Abraham among the Jewes; The Turkes without scruple affect the name of Mahomet, and with gladnesse receive so honourable cognomination.

[Misery_Loves_Co]

@Otto

Where did the notion of choosing a new name originate?

From http://people.howstuffworks.com/papacy3.htm (see the inset)

In 533 a Cardinal named Mercurius was elected as the new pontiff, and decided that it was distasteful to retain his name (which is derived from the Greek (pagan) good Mercury) in his role as the leader of the church. So he changed his name to John II. The link states he did it to honor Pope John I, but I remember hearing that it was in honor of John the Baptist. No link, no cite, so grab a grain of salt. Either way, he was the first to adopt a new name and the tradition followed.

I’ve also heard that since this tradition started, popes adopt their names based on what they wish to bring to their reign. Benificent would tend to imply that he’s not interested in the fire and brimstone of, say, a Pius. This tidbit from something on NPR - no cite.

[Johnny_L.A]

@ElvisL1ves

the Author thereof is commonly said to be Bocca di Porco, or Swines face

I dunno. I rather like the name Pope Pig-Face.

[Lips_Obsession]

Last night during the various talking heads coverage of the election of the new pope, they claimed that choosing “Peter” as your pope name wasn’t “illegal”, but would be thought of poorly since he was the original pope. Supposedly when the pope again has the name “Peter” that is supposed to be another sign of the second coming…

[Nametag]

The first 100 or so popes , if I understand the lists correctly, mostly used their Christian names; these were not generally their birth names, as it was a custom of the early Church to change one’s name upon baptism. The new name might have any origin, including pagan mythology, and this was not stigmatized at the time – the emphasis was on rebirth. As a catalog of Chistian names grew, it became more common to choose one of these, especially the name of a saint or martyr. A few early popes changed their names upon accession, for various reasons, and the last pope to keep his prior name was apparently Agapetus II, A.D. 946 - 956, or maybe John XVII, A.D. 1003.