The Catholic Church welcomes a new leader when white smoke signals emerge from the Sistine Chapel, announcing “Habemus Papam” (we have a Pope) to the crowd in St. Peter’s Square. Before he even appears on the balcony, a significant decision has already been made: his name.
This choice marks the first public action of the Pope. Names like Francis, Benedict, John Paul, and Pius come with rich histories of reform and change.
The name a Pope selects isn’t just a matter of personal preference or homage to a saint. It’s often the initial signal to the world regarding his identity, the legacy he respects, and the vision he intends to bring to the Church.
A Brief History of Papal Name Changes
For the first five centuries, Popes retained their birth names. The tradition of adopting a new name began in 533 with Pope John II, who changed his name from Mercurius to eliminate associations with the Roman deity Mercury.
The last Pope to keep his birth name was Marcellus II in 1555.
As time went on, it became standard for Popes to take new names, often choosing those of prior Popes or saints they admired. Popular choices have included John, Gregory, Benedict, Clement, and Innocent.
How Does a Pope Choose His Name?
There aren’t strict guidelines for selecting a papal name. Joshua McManaway from the McGrath Institute for Church Life mentions that high-ranking individuals are generally free to choose whatever they wish.
While the Pope can select his name freely, there is an unwritten tradition against choosing “Peter II.” This likely reflects a humility towards St. Peter, the first Pope appointed by Christ. According to McManaway, this seems to indicate a reluctance to draw comparisons between himself and Christ’s chosen leader.
Not all names reflect past Popes. For instance, Pope Pius II, who served from 1458 to 1464, chose his name because of his love for literature. His birth name was Enea Silvio Piccolomini, and he opted for “Pius” as a nod to a character named Aeneas in “The Aeneid.”
A similar tale involves Pope Julius II, who initially wanted to be called “Formosus II,” the Latin word for “handsome.” However, Cardinals advised against this, leading him to choose “Julius II” instead.
An interesting quirk exists regarding the name John. Although Pope John XIII was elected in 1958, there was never an actual Pope John XX. This confusion stems from historical record errors and the counting of anti-popes, resulting in 21 Popes named John, despite one being absent from the sequence.
Why Did Pope Francis Choose His Name?
When Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope in 2013, he selected “Francis” in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. This was particularly noteworthy as it was the first new papal name in over a thousand years, the last being Pope Land in 914.
Pope Francis later shared that he was deeply influenced by Cardinal Claudio Hummes, who urged him not to forget the poor after his election—a sentiment resonant with the spirit of St. Francis, who is renowned for his compassion toward those in need.
