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Reuters; Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Left, Pope Benedict XVI blesses the faithful for the last time. Right, his namesake Pope Benedict XV, circa 1915.
The first clue about what kind of leader the next pope will be — liberal or conservative, reformer or by-the-book — will come only minutes after the smoke clears at the Sistine Chapel.
From a balcony at St. Peter’s Basilica, the world will learn not just who has been elected but what he chooses to call himself, a decision steeped in centuries of church history — and a good indicator of the new pope’s vision and inspiration.
Until the sixth century, popes went by their given names. There was a Pope Sylvester, a Pope Julius and a Pope Victor. Then, in 533, a priest named Mercurius was elected to lead the church and decided that a pope named after a pagan god — "Mercury" — just wouldn’t do.
He chose to go by John II. Since then, most popes have abandoned their birth names and adopted tributes to saints, popes and even relatives who have gone before.
“You’re trying to pick up some of the glow of your predecessor,” said the Rev. Thomas Reese, Vatican analyst for the National Catholic Reporter.
It is a solemn decision. Newly-elected popes are asked only two questions by the senior cardinal inside the chapel. The first is whether he wants the job. The second: “By which name do you wish to be called?”
The 115 cardinals were back behind closed doors this morning for two more unsuccessful secret votes to select who among them will be the new leader of the Catholic church. NBC's Lester Holt and Keir Simmons report.
When Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected pope, in 2005, he chose Benedict XVI as a tribute to two men. One was the previous Pope Benedict, who guided the church through World War I. But Benedict XVI said that he also meant the choice as homage to St. Benedict, an intellectual like Ratzinger and one of the patron saints of Europe, for his “powerful call to the irrefutable Christian roots of European culture and civilization.”
In particular, Benedict XVI prayed to his saintly namesake to help Catholics keep Christ at the center of their lives.
“Benedict saw Europe as the key problem and the place where we really needed to focus,” Reese said.
But the choice is not always a nod to papal history. The reformer Pope John XXIII, elected in 1958, said he picked the name it part because it was the name of the small parish church where he was baptized. John is by far the most popular name for a pope to choose, making it difficult to predict what a John XXIV would be signaling by taking the name.
In 1978, Cardinal Albino Luciani declared himself Pope John Paul I, the first pope to choose a double name — and the first to declare himself “the First.”
On purpose and by chance, Americans join crowd in St. Peter's Square to watch for signs of a newly elected Pope.
He said that he meant the name as a tribute to his two immediate predecessors, John XXIII and Paul VI. They had led the church through the Second Vatican Council, which modernized the church’s relationships with the rest of the world and other branches of Christianity.
When John Paul I died just 33 days later, he was remembered so adoringly that Reese recalls making a bet with a colleague that the next pope would take the same double name.
“He just caught everybody’s imagination,” Reese said. “This smiling pope. It was just a whole month of very positive response to him.”
He won the bet, and Pope John Paul II led the church for the next 27 years.
This time around, only one bet would be a sure loser. No pope has chosen to be called Peter II. There’s no rule against it, but it is seen as poor form — an honor reserved for the first pope.
Church analysts say there are several names to watch for as hints to the new papacy.
The choice of Leo XIV could be a call for social justice, said Matthew Bunson, senior correspondent for the Catholic publishing nonprofit Our Sunday Visitor. Leo XIII, who served at the turn of the 20th century, and sought to help the world understand the dignity of workers.
Choosing Pius XIII, on the other hand, would be a more conservative choice, and a “statement of determination to defend the teachings of the faith,” Bunson said. Pius V led in opposition to the Protestant Reformation, and Pius VI and VII both died prisoners.
One-third of Americans who grew up in the Catholic Church have left, but the percentage of U.S. Catholics has held steady at 25 percent, largely because of Hispanic immigrants. NBC's Lester Holt reports.
John Paul III, even if only as a tribute to the beloved, globetrotting John Paul II, might be seen by the world as a repudiation of Benedict, Reese said.
Of course, the new pope could always choose to be called Benedict XVII — certainly a possibility because Benedict XVI appointed most of the cardinals who will choose his successor. But such a selection might disappoint Catholics who are hoping for a reformer after a papacy marked by a sexual abuse scandal, other missteps and shrinking membership in the United States and Europe.
Beyond that, it’s anyone’s guess. The new pope could choose to make his mark and choose a name never used before. Reese said he has always wondered why no one has adopted the name Pope Joseph.
Or he could set 1.2 billion Catholics around the world scratching their heads.
“The new guy,” Reese said, “could be John Paul Benedict I.”
Andrew Medichini / AP
Cardinals from around the world gather in the Vatican to elect the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
Related:
Full coverage of the papal abdication from NBC News
This story was originally published on Tue Mar 12, 2013 6:29 PM EDT
Leave a Comment:
Yes In Deed, POPE SANDUSKY would be the cost POPE EVER!!! He would have hunky handsome Priests that suck themselves and Sundasky every night after having a drunken brawl in his Chambers.
VATICAN = ONLY HOMOSEXUALS FROM NEW ON OUT. . .IT WILL SAVE A LOT OF MONEY FROM LAWSUITS IN THE FUTURE. . .Shoud have though of that Many decades ago.
Let me now that date night woul dbe good - I will join! Thanks so much!
Benetic would be locked-up in jail and be left there until He dies from no water and no food. . .WOuld probably lake 8 Years. . .THAT'T NOT LONG TIME! :) :)
FXXCK Benedick :) in the mouth very morning and Light until he DIES!
:)
Good Idea YES! :)
no @!$%#s in vitican please - their cxcks are dirty locking!!! n i g g e r s!!!
From: ronsmoley@hotmail.com
Let me hear from you!
:)
CONCLIVE from now on must die all their PUBIC HEARS BLACK!!! IMMEDIATELY!
And only light up penis area at night when having SEX with young men!
REQUEST ALL BLACK SB DISCARDED AND THROW OUT OF VITICAN!
I like "Pope Ziggy," myself. "Pope Jack" sounds like a man of the people.
"Pope Johnny 99" sounds like an admirer of Springsteen's "Nebraska" album.
"Pope Martin Luther" probably wouldn't go over so well in Vatican City.
"Pope Mary" is one name you'll ne'er see there, either.
Nor Pope Ron Smoley
News flash: "Marijuana smoke seen rising from the Sistine Chapel: decision made to send out for pizza."
What's in a name? A pope by any other name than "Pope Ferris Bueller" would not be a righteous dude.
"Sammy 69er" "Bonin'Bobby" Pedophile Pete" "Rod Rammer" "Dick" "Boy-toy" Benny Bendover"...........
Intelligent proof-reading of this article. Truly, the world of biased journalism is getting more brilliant by the day.
The headline states that the first question is "By which name etc." The article then goes on to say that the first question is "Do you want the job?" followed by the second "Name, please?" question.
The third question is "Are you Catholic?" I suppose.
Why don't they just choose the name that they have chosen when they were confirmed into the Catholic faith? It would seem more sense to do that instead of changing the name they already chose. It really does not matter, When their time is up on Earth, their name is going to be called like all the rest of us.
When the black smoke quits coming out of the chimney, the used condoms (evidence) will have been burned up and they will have elected a new Pope.
Discusting !
How about Petra Romanus ?
Who ever is elected, one can only hope that they can and will stop the pedophilia once and for all ! This must be a paramount issue for the Church, only the Pope can put a end to it !
As I have watched the news, etc regarding the pope selection. I am rather appalled at the crap this church have created. Yes, they are guilty of trying to kill many protestants, jews, etc in years past and they know it. All one has to do is read about the reformation period. Now fast forward-to see these literally old men walk in a pious way-filling in, news where they are trying to barter at the hotel where the "politics is' (cnn news), obviously this is merely a popularity contest-there is no God involved! How can I say that simple look into the Bible there are several times where the next deacons, apostles, etc were chosen by "drawing lots". You keep drawing lots over and over-weeding out the others until you get to the last group! This I will/would be God ordain! As the if the election was truly God doings-it would be unanimous the first time. By the way I am a Christian minister. Soory for all you atheist trollers-please crawl under the rock that you will be trying to us when that day does indeed come.
I do not believe you are a misiter of GOD because I don't think a minister would add that last comment. We are ALL creatures of GOD-yes, even you so called Atheists so instead of your last comment if you were truely a minister-you would pray for them. Just sayin.....And your paragraph is filled with errors
"Atheism" is "cool" and "trendy" right now so as with most trends-it will pass for many
Arrest everyone of the Pedophiles and throw away the key
In keeping with the traditions of the church, I think the next one will be "Pope Ben Dover I."
Athiest, you need to get a life. You are an anti-Catholic zealot.
OkieDokie, you are one sharp cookie. I would like you as my "Christian Minister".
You are fake.
How do you go from the Oslo accord to resigning pope. Takes one evil doer to know an entire clergy of evil doers I'm glad there are no more p o p e s after Peter the Roman what a name according to Saint Malachy.
Jesus Christ will be done.
@KMofLA: You're right. People don't have respect for anything anymore. I can't say I blame them, what with all the scandals from politicians, religious leaders, sports and entertainment celebrities, etc. I have to admit that the intellectual level of some people is quite low. I personally like Leo XIV. I doubt they'll elect a "reformer" (I hope I'm wrong). If he turns out to be Italian (my prediction) Augustus, Julius, Hadrian, or Romanus will be appropriate for the imperial Roman Catholic Church.
I think he should go by his true name Satan, the Devil! Catholic priests will continue abusing children. Think about this, the money that they have paid out to the victims of the pedophile priests was given to them by their members and those dumbasses continue to giving their hard earned money to such a perverted organization!
I think the end of this age is near. The lord Jesus will return soon.
People have been saying that for the last 2000 years. How long do people plan on waiting for Jesus to show up before they realize they've been stood up?
LA school district to pay $30 million for abuse claims Hey people in case you haven't heard-it happens everywhere and no matter how sad , sick and unfortunate it is you cannot condemn an entire group for what a few idiots do. If you did that we would have NO schools, NO churches, NO boyscouts, NO athletics, NO day care, NO government........on and on so GET OVER condemning something you know nothing about. I get it-Atheism is "cool" and "trendy" right now....I will continue to pray to GOD for all of you. May you have a peaceful and Spiritual Day.
I think Urban IX would be a good choice :
Urban I (222-230) managed to find a modus vivendi with the Roman Emperor Alexander Severus and thus avoided more persecutions of Christians
Urban II (1088-99) launched the Crusades, the Christian counter-offensive after years of Muslim conquests of Christian lands
Urban III (1185-87) took a stand against the dreaded German Emperor Fredrick Barbarossa
Urban IV (1261-64) who created the Corpus Christi festival
Urban V (1362-1370) who as first send missionaries to China and achieved some success in mounting counter-attacks against muslim Ottoman armies invading Europe
Urban VI (1378-89) who mercilessly fought against the corruption amongst cardinals and bishops
Urban VII (1590) who introduced the first smoking ban in history, concerning the churches and other official buildings in all Papal States
Urban VIII (1623-1644) a warrior pope, who succesfully defended at the head of his army Papal States and retook those lands which were earlier invaded by neighbouring ducs
My spouse is campaigning to be the next Pope. He says he'll pass out cheesy poofs and bourbon for communion. So, how about a Pope Larry?
Larry would be good but the candidate has to be a single, Catholic, adult male.