# What would be the most controversial Pope name?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-most-controversial-pope-name/653355
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [March 19, 2013, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-most-controversial-pope-name/653355 "2013-03-19T15:04:23Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-most-controversial-pope-name/653355/1 "2013-03-19T15:04:23Z")
I don’t mean something like “Pope Iscariot” or “Pope Fathead”, but the most controversial from the POV of the RC church. I know there have been some not-very-nice popes and a few antipopes, so which name would be the worst to continue for a new Pope?
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### Author:  [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-most-controversial-pope-name/653355/2 "2013-03-19T15:12:26Z")
nm
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### Author:  [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-most-controversial-pope-name/653355/3 "2013-03-19T15:13:47Z")
Going by an old Fran Lebowitz article, I’d say Pope Ira. IIRC, she speculates that Pope Joan is more likely to happen first.
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### Author:  [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-most-controversial-pope-name/653355/4 "2013-03-19T15:13:55Z")
Maybe Urban IX? Urban II, after all, was the man who started the Crusades; I doubt the Muslim world would be happy if a new Pope took his name.
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-most-controversial-pope-name/653355/5 "2013-03-19T15:15:19Z")
Since this is a matter of opinion, let’s move it to IMHO.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-most-controversial-pope-name/653355/6 "2013-03-19T15:15:53Z")
Kid Fucker I
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### Author:  [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-most-controversial-pope-name/653355/7 "2013-03-19T15:17:31Z")
Britain’s King John was so notorious that no monarch would ever give his son that name. Is there any Pope or saint who’s so notorious that a Pope would never dare choose his name?
No, not really.
The only saintly or papal name that would generate controversy is “Peter.” NOT because anyone takes the supposed prophecies of St. Malachy seriously, or thinks choosing that name would trigger the Apocalypse, but because it would seem unforgivably arrogant.
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### Author:  [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-most-controversial-pope-name/653355/8 "2013-03-19T15:19:29Z")
Recall that there WAS an antipope named John the 23rd.
That didn’t stop a recent (and much admired) pope from taking that same name.
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### Author:  [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-most-controversial-pope-name/653355/9 "2013-03-19T15:19:49Z")
After Pope John Paul, I really expected a Pope George Ringo.
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-most-controversial-pope-name/653355/10 "2013-03-19T15:20:07Z")
“Pope Jesus II” would be OK?
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### Author:  [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-most-controversial-pope-name/653355/11 "2013-03-19T15:23:34Z")
Pope [Peter II](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Peter_II).
Urban is probably a no-no these days since Urban II is most famous for the Crusades. Alexander too, I doubt any modern Pope wants his name to be associated with Borgia corruption.
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### Author:  [@Donna\_Lange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donna_Lange)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-most-controversial-pope-name/653355/12 "2013-03-19T15:34:55Z")
I go with Carlin… Corky would be a great name for a pope and we would feel he is more down to earth. But no one in the church would take Corky seriously…
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### Author:  [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-most-controversial-pope-name/653355/13 "2013-03-19T15:56:02Z")
> [@Mr.Kobayashi](#):
>
> Pope [Peter II](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Peter_II).
>
> Urban is probably a no-no these days since Urban II is most famous for the Crusades. Alexander too, I doubt any modern Pope wants his name to be associated with Borgia corruption.
As far as non-silly answers, my first thought was this, Pope Peter II.
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### Author:  [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-most-controversial-pope-name/653355/14 "2013-03-19T16:08:24Z")
Peter II is the obvious answer. It would show a complete lack of humility. I suppose Judas would be the only disciple name out of bounds, as would be Jesus and maybe even Joseph.
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-most-controversial-pope-name/653355/15 "2013-03-19T16:12:05Z")
Pope Lesbia.
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### Author:  [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-most-controversial-pope-name/653355/16 "2013-03-19T16:25:25Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#):
>
> Peter II is the obvious answer. It would show a complete lack of humility. I suppose Judas would be the only disciple name out of bounds, as would be Jesus and maybe even Joseph.
But Mary would be OK, right?
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### Author:  [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-most-controversial-pope-name/653355/17 "2013-03-19T16:25:57Z")
> [@Alessan](#):
>
> Maybe Urban IX? Urban II, after all, was the man who started the Crusades; I doubt the Muslim world would be happy if a new Pope took his name.
You do realise that the Muslim world is far greater than the levant, Egypt, Iraq and Turkey don’t you?:dubious:
I wonder if Pope Alexander, or Pope Pius will be employed again. There last owners were not exactly cardinals of virtue.
Of course the world needs a Pope Judas.
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### Author:  [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-most-controversial-pope-name/653355/18 "2013-03-19T16:26:53Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#):
>
> But Mary would be OK, right?
Probably when Satan takes to wearing woolen pajamas.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-most-controversial-pope-name/653355/19 "2013-03-19T16:44:03Z")
> [@AK84](#):
>
> You do realise that the Muslim world is far greater than the levant, Egypt, Iraq and Turkey don’t you?:dubious:
> I wonder if Pope Alexander, or Pope Pius will be employed again. There last owners were not exactly cardinals of virtue.
>
> Of course the world needs a Pope Judas.
I thought about Pius, but the extent to which the last one was controversial is in itself a bit of a controversy; [link to previous thread to avoid a rehash.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=516942) Regardless of the debate the stance of the Church is that Pius XII did nothing wrong and a lot right.
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### Author:  [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-most-controversial-pope-name/653355/20 "2013-03-19T16:45:35Z")
Pope Hitler
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