# Next papal name. Place your Bets! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 11, 2013, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-papal-name-place-your-bets/649997 "2013-02-11T18:13:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-papal-name-place-your-bets/649997/1 "2013-02-11T18:13:54Z")
With Benedict XVI saying sayonara to the title, wonder what will be the name taken by the gentleman who replaces the former and future Cardinal Ratzinger. Benedict XVII? John Paul III. Honorius II? Winner to be announce after the conclave. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-papal-name-place-your-bets/649997/2 "2013-02-11T18:17:29Z")
Heh. I first read this as “PayPal”. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-papal-name-place-your-bets/649997/3 "2013-02-11T18:20:23Z")
Sixtus VI 1.) Because we haven’t had a pope named “Sixtus” since the 16th century\*. 2.) Because it would drive the Fundamentalists insane with fear or joy. A lot of folks seem to think “Sixtus the Sixth” gives us two-thirds of the AntiChrist, equating him with the Beast whose number is 666. 3.) To Star Wars fans, he can be the Dark Pope of the Sixt. 4.) Because it’s fun to say \*[Pope Sixtus V - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Sixtus_V) ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-papal-name-place-your-bets/649997/4 "2013-02-11T18:36:21Z")
Pope Ehead. Prolly won’t happen though. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-papal-name-place-your-bets/649997/5 "2013-02-11T18:42:49Z")
Pope Ringo George I. That’s what I’d go with, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-papal-name-place-your-bets/649997/6 "2013-02-11T18:45:10Z")
Pope Poe. The law and order pope. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-papal-name-place-your-bets/649997/7 "2013-02-11T18:47:30Z")
Enfreschdo ---
**Author:** ![Strinka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strinka/32/512_2.png) [@Strinka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strinka)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-papal-name-place-your-bets/649997/8 "2013-02-11T18:48:41Z")
Suburban I ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-papal-name-place-your-bets/649997/9 "2013-02-11T18:50:18Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > Pope Ringo George I. > > That’s what I’d go with, anyway. When John Paul I was elected, _National Lampoon_ had a piece saying that Pope George Ringo was miffed. They included a still of Ringo dressed as the pope from _Lisztomania_. [http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;\_ylt=A0PDoX6BPRlRywkAJjGJzbkF;\_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F\_adv\_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Dringo%2Blisztomania%2Bpope%26fr%3Dyfp-t-701%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D2&w=400&h=300&imgurl=1.bp.blogspot.com%2F\_lpiDRDaH-mU%2FRvRAu7uzS7I%2FAAAAAAAACrs%2FDTkpCJPAt2I%2Fs400%2FPOPE%2BRINGO.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.moicani.fr%2Farticle-ringo-starr-l-acteur-53549119.html&size=29.8+KB&name=francis+merlin+l+enchanteur+1975+\lisztomania+\<%2Fb\>de+ken+russel+pape&p=ringo+lisztomania+pope&oid=25c0e314cbb8d2a6222a9291796ff3d4&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-701&tt=francis%2Bmerlin%2Bl%2Benchanteur%2B1975%2B%253Cb%253Elisztomania%2B%253C%252Fb%253Ede%2Bken%2Brussel%2Bpape&b=0&ni=21&no=2&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=120klvql1&sigb=13k7ermrq&sigi=12mpn4u6t&.crumb=G.kSrW0OssH](http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoX6BPRlRywkAJjGJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3F_adv_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Dringo%2Blisztomania%2Bpope%26fr%3Dyfp-t-701%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D2&w=400&h=300&imgurl=1.bp.blogspot.com%2F_lpiDRDaH-mU%2FRvRAu7uzS7I%2FAAAAAAAACrs%2FDTkpCJPAt2I%2Fs400%2FPOPE%2BRINGO.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.moicani.fr%2Farticle-ringo-starr-l-acteur-53549119.html&size=29.8+KB&name=francis+merlin+l+enchanteur+1975+%3Cb%3Elisztomania+%3C%2Fb%3Ede+ken+russel+pape&p=ringo+lisztomania+pope&oid=25c0e314cbb8d2a6222a9291796ff3d4&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-701&tt=francis%2Bmerlin%2Bl%2Benchanteur%2B1975%2B%253Cb%253Elisztomania%2B%253C%252Fb%253Ede%2Bken%2Brussel%2Bpape&b=0&ni=21&no=2&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=120klvql1&sigb=13k7ermrq&sigi=12mpn4u6t&.crumb=G.kSrW0OssH) ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-papal-name-place-your-bets/649997/10 "2013-02-11T19:42:14Z")
They’ve just had Pope Palpatine; so now they need Pope Skywalker. ---
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-papal-name-place-your-bets/649997/11 "2013-02-11T19:50:35Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Heh. I first read this as “PayPal”. Me too! I read the title once, moved on, and then came back to it and thought, “Hmm, bets on a paypal name. OK, I guess I’ll see what that’s all about.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-papal-name-place-your-bets/649997/12 "2013-02-11T19:54:39Z")
Eh. Probably another John. What are we up to now, John XXXVII or something? Or is that Superbowls? I get them confused. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-papal-name-place-your-bets/649997/13 "2013-02-11T19:56:30Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > They’ve just had Pope Palpatine; so now they need Pope Skywalker. Pope Vader is more likely. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-papal-name-place-your-bets/649997/14 "2013-02-11T19:56:31Z")
It better be Peter the Roman, or [St. Malachy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy_of_the_Popes#Petrus_Romanus) has some ‘splainin’ to do. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-papal-name-place-your-bets/649997/15 "2013-02-11T20:01:03Z")
> [@Battle\_Pope](#): > > Pope Vader is more likely. Nah, Cardinal Vader was fatally injured by Pope Palpatine’s Force Lightning before Vader threw him off the Papal balcony. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-papal-name-place-your-bets/649997/16 "2013-02-11T20:02:05Z")
Stephen X (the last one was IX, 9) Pope Snuffy Smith has a nice ring to it too. 😃 But my vote is Stephen X ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-papal-name-place-your-bets/649997/17 "2013-02-11T20:04:10Z")
One with a non-zero chance of happening: Pope Gregory XVII. It would be taken as a sign that the pope was going to be quite conservative, however, ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-papal-name-place-your-bets/649997/18 "2013-02-11T20:11:22Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > They’ve just had Pope Palpatine; so now they need Pope Skywalker. Episode CCLXVI: A New Pope ---
**Author:** ![Kiyoshi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e19adc/32.png) [@Kiyoshi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiyoshi)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-papal-name-place-your-bets/649997/19 "2013-02-11T20:13:25Z")
Pope Goes the Weasel? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-papal-name-place-your-bets/649997/20 "2013-02-11T20:14:52Z")
As much as I’d like to see Pope Onarope I, I’d say John Paul III, Benedict XVII, John XXIV, or Paul VII are the strongest possibilities. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-papal-name-place-your-bets/649997.md?page=2)