CNA Staff, May 7, 2025 /
10:38 am
John, Pius, Leo, and Alexander. These are just a few of the names popes have taken over the centuries. When the white smoke appears and a new pope is chosen, he is asked: “By what name shall you be called?”
This tradition began in 533. Popes during the earlier centuries kept their birth names after their election. There were some popes who chose to change their names before this time, such as Mercurius. He felt it was inappropriate to be named after the pagan Roman god Mercury and decided to take the name John II after his predecessor John I, who was venerated as a martyr.
The last pope to use their baptismal name was Marcellus II in 1555.
Although this has been a tradition for centuries, there are no set guidelines that a pope must follow. Papal names are freely chosen and the individual can choose to keep their birth name if they please. Most importantly, names are chosen and are not given to them.
Over the years, popes have decided to honor their predecessors, as well as saints, mentors, and even family members.
In 1978, Cardinal Albino Luciani became the first pope to take a double name. Luciani, who became John Paul I, decided to honor his two immediate predecessors — John XXIII and Paul VI. After his short pontificate came to an end, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla was elected pope. Wojtyla desired to continue his predecessor’s work and became the second pope to take a double name as John Paul II.
Many popes will also choose to honor a saint whose work here on earth emulates what they hope to achieve during their pontificate.
Pope Francis made history when he chose a name that had never been used by a pope before. He explained that the name came to him when a cardinal embraced him and reminded him not to forget the poor.
“It was then that I thought of St. Francis. And then I thought of wars and about peace and that’s how the name came to me — a man of peace, a poor man,” he said.
With St. Francis of Assisi in mind, Pope Francis’ pontificate embodied a spirit of caring for the poor and spreading peace.
Another example is Pope Benedict XVI, who chose to honor Benedict XV and St. Benedict of Nursia.
In his first general audience, Pope Benedict XVI said: “I chose to call myself Benedict XVI ideally as a link to the venerated pontiff, Benedict XV, who guided the Church through the turbulent times of the First World War … The name Benedict also evokes the extraordinary figure of the great ‘patriarch of western monasticism,’ St. Benedict of Nursia, co-patron of Europe with Cyril and Methodius. The progressive expansion of the Benedictine order which he founded exercised an enormous influence on the spread of Christianity throughout the European continent. For this reason, St. Benedict is much venerated in Germany, and especially in Bavaria, my own land of origin; he constitutes a fundamental point of reference for the unity of Europe and a powerful call to the irrefutable Christian roots of European culture and civilization.”
So, what are the most popular papal names?
John is the most popular with 23 popes taking this name. The name Gregory has been used by 16 popes and the name Benedict has also been used by 16 popes. Clement was the name of 14 popes; Innocent was the name of 13 popes; and Pius was the name of 13 popes.
There are 44 papal names that have only been used once. Some of these names are: Anacletus, Constantine, Cornelius, Francis, Hilarius, Linus, Marcellinus, Mark, Peter, and Valentine.
Francesca is a staff reporter for Catholic News Agency. She received her degree in Communications with an emphasis in Digital Media from the University of Colorado – Denver. She is also in charge of the social media for Catholic News Agency.
