Papal names

[Mfhorn]

As a non-Catholic, I find the history of the different names Popes have chosen to be interesting.

Some have chosen a characteristic, like Pius, Innocent, or Honorius.

Others chose a name reflecting someone important in Christendom, like John or Paul.

But there have been many Popes with, at least to our ears, names which are unusual. What prompted Popes like Urban, Conon, or Zosimus to choose those names? And, with the obvious exception of Judas, why have only a handful of names of the other Disciples had their names used?

 

[chevyontheriver]

As a non-Catholic, I find the history of the different names Popes have chosen to be interesting.

Some have chosen a characteristic, like Pius, Innocent, or Honorius.

Others chose a name reflecting someone important in Christendom, like John or Paul.

But there have been many Popes with, at least to our ears, names which are unusual. What prompted Popes like Urban, Conon, or Zosimus to choose those names? And, with the obvious exception of Judas, why have only a handful of names of the other Disciples had their names used?

Good questions. I don't know how easy they will be to answer.

If the new pope is named Francis II it will tell you something right away. That the new guy plans to be like Francis I.

Likewise if the new pope is named anything but Francis II it will tell you that the new guy will be different than Francis I. A little different or a lot different. In about ten days we will know the new name.

 

[FreeinChrist]

ADVISOR HAT

This thread was moved from The Chapel to the main forum as it is a better fit here. ​

 

[Michie]

Good questions. I don't know how easy they will be to answer.

If the new pope is named Francis II it will tell you something right away. That the new guy plans to be like Francis I.

Likewise if the new pope is named anything but Francis II it will tell you that the new guy will be different than Francis I. A little different or a lot different. In about ten days we will know the new name.

I ran across this: Papal choice of name traditionally gives hint of what papacy will be like spiritually, politically

It says pretty much the same thing. Interesting but I never knew that as far as the name could be an indication of the type of papacy it could be. The last thing I thought was it could also be a political statement. *shrug*

 

[ozso]

Looking back three hundred years they all had a traditional name several other popes before them had. John Paul I was the first to break that. I think his successor took his name since he only lasted a month. Then the traditional format was restored by Benedict XVI. But then came Francis to break away from the traditional format again. So will it be Paul VII, John XXIV, Pius XIII, Leo IX, Gregory XVII, Clement XV etc? Or another first of his name?

 

[chevyontheriver]

Looking back three hundred years they all had a traditional name several other popes before them had. John Paul I was the first to break that. I think his successor took his name since he only lasted a month. Then the traditional format was restored by Benedict XVI. But then came Francis to break away from the traditional format again. So will it be Paul VII, John XXIV, Pius XIII, Leo IX, Gregory XVII, Clement XV etc? Or another first of his name?

Anything but Francis II.

 

[RileyG]

I ran across this: Papal choice of name traditionally gives hint of what papacy will be like spiritually, politically

It says pretty much the same thing. Interesting but I never knew that as far as the name could be an indication of the type of papacy it could be. The last thing I thought was it could also be a political statement. *shrug*

Yeah, interesting how we have John Paul I, John Paul II, that combined the two Vatican II Popes.

 

[RileyG]

Anything but Francis II.

God's will be done!

Or Peter II AKA Peter the Roman from the (false) prophecy

 

[Michie]

God's will be done!

Or Peter II AKA Peter the Roman from the (false) prophecy

If the new pope uses Peter in his name in any way, there are many out there that are going to lose their cookies. Lol

 

[RileyG]

If the new pope uses Peter in his name in any way, there are many out there that are going to lose their cookies. Lol

Absolutely! But I doubt it will happen.

Interesting, there is no Pope Ignatius, or Pope James, or Pope Jude that I'm aware of. Hmmm....

 

[chevyontheriver]

If the new pope uses Peter in his name in any way, there are many out there that are going to lose their cookies. Lol

I’d lose my cookies and I don’t even buy the whole St. Malachi hoax. The first half of the ‘prophecy’ was retrospective and the last half total guessing, vague enough like a horoscope to be in falsifiable.

 

[Bob Crowley]

If the Filipino Cardinal Luis Tagle becomes Pope, I suppose there's a chance of a Pope Lorenzo. Just a personal aside.

Lorenzo Ruiz - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Saint Thomas anyone? Mind you if there was an Indian Pope his name would be a possibility. They have a strong tradition that Thomas died in India as a martyr.

 

[Michie]

For some reason I’m getting the feeling Cardinal Pietro Parolin will be next in line. But that’s just a guess. Word is he wants the position too.

 

[FaithT]

If the new pope uses Peter in his name in any way, there are many out there that are going to lose their cookies. Lol

Yikes!

 

[Mfhorn]

I ran across this: Papal choice of name traditionally gives hint of what papacy will be like spiritually, politically

It says pretty much the same thing. Interesting but I never knew that as far as the name could be an indication of the type of papacy it could be. The last thing I thought was it could also be a political statement. *shrug*

Interesting.

Thanks!

 

[JSRG]

As a non-Catholic, I find the history of the different names Popes have chosen to be interesting.

Some have chosen a characteristic, like Pius, Innocent, or Honorius.

Others chose a name reflecting someone important in Christendom, like John or Paul.

But there have been many Popes with, at least to our ears, names which are unusual. What prompted Popes like Urban, Conon, or Zosimus to choose those names? And, with the obvious exception of Judas, why have only a handful of names of the other Disciples had their names used?

In the case of Urban, Conon, and Zosimus--and for that matter, also Pius, Innocent, Honorius--the answer is simple. They didn't choose those names; their parents did! Those were their original names. The practice of taking on a new name upon becoming pope did not become standard practice until later. The first one to do it appears to have been John II (6th century) whose original name was Mercurius. Over time, the practice of choosing a new name upon the ascension to the papacy became more and more popular. The last one to not take on a new name was Marcellus II in the 16th century.

 

[Bob Crowley]

For some reason I’m getting the feeling Cardinal Pietro Parolin will be next in line. But that’s just a guess. Word is he wants the position too.

I've had a bit of a similar sense. I knew next to nothing about the man but when the ABC news had an item on who the next Pope might be, his photograph seemed to be hinted at.

The cardinal contenders who could emerge as the next pope

Speculation is swirling about who could be the new leader of the Catholic church. But the secretive nature of papal elections means it's hard to pick a single frontrunner.

www.abc.net.au

At the top of the article was a composite photograph of three cardinals. My attention seemed to be drawn to the one on the left, who I think is Cardinal Parolin. Time will tell of course. He certainly has experience in papal circles, but it seems his critics think he lacks "pastoral" experience.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin

Cardinal Pietro Parolin believes the Church’s liturgy can be “transformative” — that a better understanding of its meaning and symbolic language, especially the Mass, can help Catholics “encounter the…

collegeofcardinalsreport.com

A significant mark against Parolin is his lack of pastoral experience. While his faith was nurtured in his local parish as a young man, and he served as an altar boy, his priestly career has been dedicated to Vatican diplomacy and administration rather than parish ministry.

There's not much point worrying about it either way - I won't be the one mixing the chemicals for the chimney smoke.

Google Search

If no pope is chosen, the ballots are mixed with cartridges containing potassium perchlorate, anthracene (a component of coal tar), and sulfur to produce black smoke. But if there is a winner, the burning ballots are mixed with potassium chlorate, lactose and chloroform resin to produce the white smoke.3 days ago

 

[chevyontheriver]

I've had a bit of a similar sense. I knew next to nothing about the man but when the ABC news had an item on who the next Pope might be, his photograph seemed to be hinted at.

The cardinal contenders who could emerge as the next pope

Speculation is swirling about who could be the new leader of the Catholic church. But the secretive nature of papal elections means it's hard to pick a single frontrunner.

www.abc.net.au

At the top of the article was a composite photograph of three cardinals.

Parolin was the one who actually signed the China-Vatican deal. McCarrick facilitated it at the behest of pope Francis but as to final content it’s all Parolin.

He could be one of the candidates who would call himself Francis II. I don’t see much distance between them other than Parolin is probably more careful in his speech.

 

[Wolseley]

Anything but Francis II.

Well, if the name chosen is a reflection of what the pontificate will be like, I'm hoping for a John Paul III.