Why no new papal names for over a millenium?

[Northern_Piper]

Over in the thread on papal names, Sunspace makes an interesting observation:

@Sunspace

Scrolling backwards through the list, I see that, before Pope John Paul I, Pope Lando (913-914) was the last pope to bring a new name to the list. All the popes since, except for John Paul I, have reused an older name as their regnal name

Why is that? I realize that the papacy is a conservative institution, but why hasn’t a new pope wanted to break ground in this area for over a thousand years? (And in my opinion, JPI doesn’t really count, since he said that he was choosing that name to pay homage to his two immediate predecessors, John XXIII and Paul VI.)

[Simplicio]

@Northern_Piper

(And in my opinion, JPI doesn’t really count, since he said that he was choosing that name to pay homage to his two immediate predecessors, John XXIII and Paul VI.)

I’d always heard this was the reason, actually. The tradition is that popes choose a name of a predecessor that they want to honor or emulate. The current pope, for example (from wiki):

Filled with sentiments of awe and thanksgiving, I wish to speak of why I chose the name Benedict. Firstly, I remember Pope Benedict XV, that courageous prophet of peace, who guided the Church through turbulent times of war. In his footsteps I place my ministry in the service of reconciliation and harmony between peoples. Additionally, I recall Saint Benedict of Nursia, co-patron of Europe, whose life evokes the Christian roots of Europe. I ask him to help us all to hold firm to the centrality of Christ in our Christian life: May Christ always take first place in our thoughts and actions!

Stupid tradition, as it makes remembering what pope did what difficult (though still better then the French tradition of almost every King Louis, though).

[Chronos]

You could still honor previous popes while simultaneously bringing in new names, though. There was some speculation before Ratzinger officially chose Benedict that he would go with Carolus, in honor of John Paul II’s birth name. (Another suggestion was to follow up John Paul with Pope George Ringo, but that never really got off the ground.)

[Kent_Clark]

From The Papacy: An Encyclopedia (2001)

From the 16th century, the name chosen has invariably been inspired by the principle of pietas: PAUL IV, GREGORY XIV, CLEMENT X, INNOCENT XI, INNOCENT XII, CLEMENT XII, CLEMENT XIII, BENEDICT XIV, CLEMENT XIV, PIUS VII, PIUS VIII, and PIUS XII took the names of those predecessors who had raised them to the cardinalate.

JULIUS III, PAUL V, and GREGORY XV chose the name of the pope who had launched them on their curial career.

CLEMENT VIII, LEO XI, INNOCENT X, ALEXANDER VII, and INNOCENT XIII chose the name of the pope who had actively supported their family.

PAUL IV, PIUS V, SIXTUS V, and ALEXANDER VIII adopted the names of those predecessors whose nephews had contributed to their election.

Taking a predecessor’s name not only was a way of giving symbolic thanks but also implied the wish to be faithful to a spiritual heritage. Hence the stereotypical, conservative character of pontifical names in the modern era. Julius, Marcellus, and Sixtus were chosen once; as for the others, the choice of names over the roughly four centuries from the council of Trent to Vatican II boils down to nine: Paul, Pius, Gregory, Urban, Innocent, Clement, Leo, Alexander, and Benedict. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Clement takes the lead, and then, until 1958, the name Pius.

Pietas in this context is the concept of devotion, duty to, or respect for.

[Northern_Piper]

Interesting - but none of that applies to John XXIII or Paul VI, who revived names from long-dead popes with whom they had no personal connexion, so it’s not an iron-clad requirement.

[Cunctator]

As others have noted, it’s a sign of pietas towards his pedecessors in the office. It also makes the Pope realise that he’s but one link in a very long chain and reinforces the historical context of the Church, the apostolic succession and the deposit of faith which the Pope must uphold. Perhaps it also puts him in his place a bit? The current Pope may be in charge right now, but he’ll come and go like all of the others.

[dalej42]

Pope John XII started the tradition of changing your name when you were elected pope. Prior to John XII (real name Octavian), the only pope to change his name was John II. His real name was Mercurius and didn’t want to be associated with a pagan deity.

So, since 964, all elected popes have changed their names.

[Chronos]

Wasn’t there also a pope who was born with the name Peter, but who felt that the Apostle ought to be the only Pope Peter?

[HeyHomie]

What would be the reaction within the Vatican if someone wanted to break tradition and either a) Retain his given name (seriously, what’s wrong with Pope Joseph I?), or b) Introduce a new name?

[Steve_MB]

@dalej42

So, since 964, all elected popes have changed their names.

That’s when it became customary, but there were still exceptions:

The last pope to use his baptismal name was Pope Marcellus II in 1555, a choice that was even then quite exceptional.

[KneadToKnow]

Pope Lando?

[Northern_Piper]

One of the popes during the period of papal history known as the pornocracy (you can’t make this stuff up).

[Sunspace]

@Northern_Piper

One of the popes during the period of papal history known as the pornocracy (you can’t make this stuff up).

That explains how Pope Lando got his position: he won it in a gambling game with Baron Reynor.