By Colleen Barry, Associated Press
Rome (AP) – The first index of the management of the next Pope will be the name the winner chooses.
The announcement “Habemus Papam” – “We have a pope” – from the Balcony of the Saint -Pierre basilica is followed first by the revelation of the name baptismal of the new pontiff, in Latin, followed by his papal name, forged with meaning.
A Pope Francis II would mean the continuity of the pastoral heritage of the deceased pontiff and his priority to the marginalized. Francis himself joked that his successor would be John XXIV, after the progressive pope of Vatican II. The most popular papal name of the 20th century, Pius, would be a clear signal that a traditionalist brings back the throne of Saint-Pierre.
“In the deepest corners of their mind when they start conclave, everyone will get there with a name in their heads,” said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, president of religious studies at the University of Manhattan.
History of papal names
During most of the first millennium of the Catholic Church, the popes used their given names. The first exception was the 6th century Roman Mercurius, which had been appointed for a pagan god and chose the most appropriate name of John II.
The practice of adopting a new name has become anchored in the 11th century, a period of German popes which chose the names of the bishops of the primitive Church “of a desire to signify continuity,” said Reverend Roberto Regoli, historian of the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome.
For many centuries, the new popes tended to choose the name of the Pope who had raised them to Cardinal. John was the most popular, chosen by 23 popes, followed by Benedict and Gregory, each with 16.
It was not until the middle of the 20th century that new popes began to choose names signaling the objective of their papacy, said Regoli.
“Even now, while we are waiting for the new pope, the name with which he presents himself will help us understand the horizon to which he wants to proceed,” said Regoli.
Some names have been out of use for centuries, such as urban or innocent.
“I do not think that anyone will choose innocent,” said Imperatori-Lee, given the abuses and the other scandals that rocked the church. “I don’t think it would be the right choice.”
Recent names
Francis: Pope Francis, elected in 2013, took the name of Saint-François d’Assise, known for his humility, his life of poverty and his love of all creatures. With him, Francis reported a papacy focused on those who are often considered as foreigners, especially the poor, prisoners and the LGBTQ +community, while promoting peace, brotherhood and environmental care.
Benoît: Elected for the last time by the German cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, elected in 2005. Pope Benedict XVI said that he wanted to pay tribute to Benedict XV, who led the Church during the First World War and devoted himself to the healing of the war of war, which contributed to Christality in the 6th century. One of Benedict XVI’s priorities was to revive faith in Europe. “If we get a Benedict, we will know that the cardinals have chosen to see Francis as an anomaly,” said Imperatori-Lee.
John Paul: The first composite name of the papacy was chosen by Cardinal Albino Luciani in 1978 to honor Pope John XXIII, who opened the process of the Council of Vatican II which reformed the Catholic Church, and Paul VI, which closed it. The name reported a commitment to reforms, in particular the dismissal of the Latin mass in favor of local languages and the opening to other confessions, especially Judaism. The papacy of John Paul I only lasted 33 days. Polish cardinal Karol Wojtyla, who succeeded him, chose the name of John Paul II.
John: Chosen 23 times by popes, more recently in 1958 by Pope John XXIII. John can refer to Saint-Jean the apostle, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus and the author of one of the Gospels, or Saint John the Baptist, the prophet who baptized Jesus. “Jean Le XXIII was a pope that no one expected a lot, but had a colossal impact on the church,” said Imperatori-Lee. “So that could be a sign of what they want their pontificate to look like.”
Paul: Chosen six times, more recently in 1963 by Paul VI. Saint-Paul the apostle spread the teachings of Jesus in the 1st century.
Pie: It is associated with popes known for their traditionalist and anti-reform pension. Pius IX ordered the kidnapping of the Jewish boy Edgardo Mortara in 1858 and raised him Catholic to the Vatican after learning that he had been secretly baptized by a cleaning lady; Pius X was the antinoderist of the beginning of the 20th century who inspired the Schismatic Anti-Vatican II group, the Société de Saint-Pie X; Pius XII was the Pope of the Second World War era criticized for not having spoken enough of the holocaust. “It is now a name that is hostage for certain Catholic groups that can be considered traditionalists,” said Regoli.
New directions
A new pope is free to choose a name never used before, as Francis did.
“It would open up a new season and could mean that its program does not comply with any of its predecessors, so an even more personalized program,” said Regoli.
Imperatori-Lee suggested another name which could point out a continuation of the heritage of Francis: Ignace, for the founder of the Jesuit Order of Francis.
“It would be interesting,” she said. “We never had one.”
Originally published:
California Daily Newspapers
