# Ioannes Paulus PP. II **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 1, 2001, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ioannes-paulus-pp-ii/60419 "2001-04-01T23:42:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zweistein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/54ee81/32.png) [@Zweistein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zweistein)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2001, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ioannes-paulus-pp-ii/60419/1 "2001-04-01T23:42:34Z")
In all offical documents, the pope signes the document as Ioannes Paulus PP. II; or Paulus PP. VI Benedictus PP. XV Leo PP. XII The question is: what does the PP stand for ? ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2001, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ioannes-paulus-pp-ii/60419/2 "2001-04-02T00:16:05Z")
It’s the Latin abbreviation for “pope” or “papa” ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2001, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ioannes-paulus-pp-ii/60419/3 "2001-04-02T00:22:08Z")
It means _Pope and Pontiff_ from [this](http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0005Hr) ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2001, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ioannes-paulus-pp-ii/60419/4 "2001-04-02T00:28:10Z")
Well, according to this site of Latin abbreviations, pp (PP?) simply abbreviated _Papa_, pope. Other possibilities might include _ **P** apa et **P** ontifex_. _Pontifex_, whence the English pontiff, was an ancient title for the pagan high priest in Rome, and the pope snagged the title after Christianity became the official religion. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2001, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ioannes-paulus-pp-ii/60419/5 "2001-04-02T00:30:57Z")
When 4 popes in a row come up with the names “John Paul,” my first thought is that they’re all fans of the Beatles and Led Zeppelin. ;j ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2001, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ioannes-paulus-pp-ii/60419/6 "2001-04-02T00:31:16Z")
[http://asgle.classics.unc.edu/abbrev/latin/Popp.htm](http://asgle.classics.unc.edu/abbrev/latin/Popp.htm) ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2001, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ioannes-paulus-pp-ii/60419/7 "2001-04-02T00:48:40Z")
My first post was in haste, and wrong. This might be better- > [@](#): > > After Gaius came Marcellinus (30 June 296 - 25th October 304) who died during the persecution of Diocletian but not as a martyr. We know only that he was buried in the Catacombs of Priscilla. However, his name is recorded in the famous inscription of the Deacon Severus which is found in the cemetery of Callixtus. > In latin hexameters, Severus tells us that had constructed a cubiculum with arcosolia “for himself and his dear ones where he might dwell in peace”. He had been authorised by “pope Marcellinus.” The term “pope (papa)”, synonymous with the bishop of Rome, appears for the first time in this inscription, in the abbreviation “PP” used even today by the popes in their signatures. From [this](http://www.catacombe.roma.it/en/ricerche/ricerca4.html) ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2001, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ioannes-paulus-pp-ii/60419/8 "2001-04-02T00:50:21Z")
Acronym Finder only gives Pope as an equivalent. Interestingly enough, Collins English Dictionary gives Parish Priest as one of the possibilities. Here’s a far-fetched hypothesis: the Vatican being a parish, could this be referring to the Pope as a parish priest which, in a sense, he is. The words in Latin would, of course, have to start with the same two letters. (Although if I were to wager, I’d probably go with Papa et Pontifex:D) ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2001, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ioannes-paulus-pp-ii/60419/9 "2001-04-02T00:54:18Z")
Just read **samclem** ’s post. Makes sense. Please disregard my earlier fantasy interpretation.