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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:
Why is the media ignoring that the last pope was the first pope to resign in 800 years, and was caught in a web of child abusing priests, the "butler gate", and the FACT that the chuch has been stuck in the 19 century for 2 centuries?
The CORRUPTION in the church is rampant. It's also a dictatorship of ONLY old men. Maybe it was the 18th century!
The Cardinals should be more concerned about finding a new QB. They really sucked since Kurt Warner left.
And with football, it's more of a sweet green smoke.....
"let's have another hit and talk about the tight ends...."
So I'm guessing it will be Pedophile Pete
How about Pope Chester. Chester The Molestor.
Pope Secret Pedophilia would be pretty accurate.
I cannot wait for the day religions dies out completely, get this sordid fairy tale bull@!$%# off my front page msn.
Not to question your faith or anything. But I think jesus said in Matthew "by their fruits you will know them". Crusades, numerous sex abuse scandals, political allegiance. "You receive free, give free". Each cardinals wardrobe today probably cost more than most of our weekly salaries. Then look at Vatican city and the sistine chapel.. Search elsewhere
No matter what the new Pope is called we should honor him and pray for his strength and courage
in leading this body of believers!!!
Yep... nothing says sanity quite like praying to invisible gods.
<sarc off>
We should laugh at his dress and funny hat, and the fact he's following a leader know for ignoring priests diddling children, that was forced to resign in disgrace.
Christ ALONE leads HIS believers! "Lead even ONE of MY children a-stray" and YOU better be practicing swimming with a MILLSTONE strapped around yer neck!! This was Christ's WARNING to church 'leaders' with NO question: No doubt there is alot of 'big-hats' BURNING in hell for 'thinking' ALL sins can be forgiven!!! The future Poop better get a HANDLE on that type of $H1T YESTERDAY!!!!
The next Pope will be the last Pope, the false prophet. Do not listen to his lies, his job is to deceive the people into worshipping the antichrist. This was foretold by many different prophets. Beware of what is coming to befall mankind.
chief1055 ,you are so right he was foretold by many different prophets.I believe the end of days has arrived.
He can start-out with any name but it's a FACT that he will end-up with "Pope Enabler the Defendant"!
who will selected to be the Holy Fluffer?
The next Cardinal in line. Or maybe the Cardinal's teenage son.
How about a name of a more Oriental nature -- such as Monkey Carries Bananas Over the Mountain?
How about Pope Bubba
"Pope Peter the Pan". He loves fairy tales! Captain Hooker can be his second in command.
Listen up people: This pope will be called "Pius XIII" he will condemn Vatican II and all its aftermath, he will restore the previous, doctrines, condemnations, teachings, and Mass of pre-Vatican II. He will in some way condemn Judeo/Freemasonry and Nostra Aetate, he will strike terror and anger into the enemies of the church both within and without. He will Consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary which will cause Russia and the Orthodox and anger and hatred that will explode. Homosexuality, Fremasonry, Communism, Abortion, Divorce, Contraception, all will in some way be absolutely condemned, many Catholics will incur the sentence of excommunication; Ecumenism will be condemned, he will state that outside the Holy Roman Catholic Church there is no salvation, period. He is going to shoch the entire world and Church - and because he does so - because God by this election and Pope is in essence saying to Satan - "your time is up" and what follows, if you have read many prophecies of Catholic saints and mystics, civil war and revolution within weeks in Europe and then following in America, then again, after a few months WWIII. One should read the following: JR Nyquist - Patriots who think - Gregorian Rite: Blessed Elena Aiello - WW3 Prophecies and Visions from Central Europe - The Apocalypse: Blessed Canori-Mori. Lucia of Fatima said that Russia will attack America. Obama's mission was to prepare us for this attack to establish a Marxist Dictatorship and also one to be established as a New World Satanic Dictatorship, but God, now is going to pre-empt their plans thus giving us a chance but at the same time allowing our enemies to punish us severely for our loss of faith, for them modernism in the Church and the great Apostasy now happening in Catholicism where the majority of priests and hierarch have abandoned the truths of the faith and adopted and conformed to modern civilization, rather than man conforming to God and His laws. Get ready for what is going to be a shock to the entire world followed within weeks of world revolution and the WIII. Also one might google - "The Three Days Darkness that happens at the end of this coming four year World War - as told by St. Padre Pio and other saints. Soon the enemies "within" the Church will first cower in terror and then their anger and desperation will come out.
So, why are you letting people know you are stoned out of your mind?
OY!! get a grip....a good firm grip on a 38 cal......put into your mouth....squeeze!
Why would the new Pope change doctrines, teachings and mass? Surely most Catholics realize much of this was done to keep young people interested not only in the Church but in serving. I can remember when Catholics could not eat meat on Fridays, when Mass was given in Latin only - when one could not marry outside of the faith or others marry a Catholic without converting, when priests and ministers did not celebrate marriages, funerals, etc. together and when it was hip to go to guitar-Mass. I can't see anyone undoing what many have seen as real progress in relations with other Christian faiths. I believe our days are only as dark and horrible as we imagine them to be - religion should be the light in our lives and something to make us joyful, not sad, or fearful.
Pope Dweezil I
Pope Moonbeam!
oops
Pope God II?
That would be a path changer.
If the next Pope calls himself 'Peter of Rome', watch out!
Pope Roman Peter would be even worse.
I don't think any pope can ever use Innocent again,so how about Pope No Contest?(Although I really like Pope Rupaul)
I believe in a pope as much as I would believe in santa clause, and the easter bunny who lays eggs.
Looks like the Media (MSN) and those under the influence of Satan are on the discussion board trolling for lost souls to claim. Why else would a godless mass be on here? Seriously some of you are so yesterday with your immature quotes about pedophiles I must remind you that those involved in such atrocious crimes make up less than 1% of the priests presently serving. Society can only wish its rate for pedophiles were that low.
!% of those were the only percentage caught.
Anytime you have a religion that bars sex and marriage to the opposite sex, you have a breeding ground.
Even less than one percent of those serving is too many - how many others have there been over these centuries? These actions are crimes and should never happen to our children. These crimes should never be hidden to protect anyone or any institution - even the Catholic church.
Personally I am hoping for a Conservative Pope as the Church does not need to "progress and get with the times" and should stick to the word of God and how he wanted us to live our lives. Giving in to mankind's whims and desires is reminiscent of the original sin.
The pope is a dictator, nothing more. Elected by 115 old men, who themselves were never elected.
Pope Fidel. That would fit!
(being conservative is FAR different than "being stuck in the 17th century, BTW)
....oh come on! pope beneadick has been dead for so long he stopped progressing last century....and the true original sin was starting the catholic church in the first place....time to put an end to all the nonsense.
Being moral and following the word of God is far different than, ""being stuck in the 17th century".
.....time for a FEMALE pope....I mean lets get a lady in there boys....I propose the loosest female we can find...a lady of the night, a female pope in fishnets! Pope Mary Magdalene.....geeezus would approve :-)
Pope Doggy Dog
"Pope Diddy"
I don't think that having 115 older men who have never had sex, gathered together in a room by themselves, sworn to secrecy(!), should be deciding how to fix the church. Their decisions are responsible for creating the mess in the first place. These are guys that have spent their entire lives being conformists while preaching from a book which is vague and contradictory and makes no sense at any level. It's going to take some major Mad Men work to turn this brand around. I think an American is going to have to be the choice. It's time to drag the church into the late 19th century.
Or, the 21st Century
I don't care what his name is, as long as he revives the "stake".