From Peter to Linus to Francis: How do popes pick their papal names?

Yahoo

07-05-2025

Kendrick Lamar once said, "If I'm gonna tell a real story, I'm gonna start with my name."
It's a long way from hip hop to the Holy See, but that sentiment is something both realms have in common: Names matter, and they can help tell a person's story.
Each new pope, once chosen by a conclave of the College of Cardinals, can take on a new name, one infused with meaning, history and tradition.
When Jorge Bergoglio ascended to the papacy, he chose to become Pope Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, a 13th century friar who rejected his family's wealth and went to live, minister and work among the poor.
Francis was the first pope from the Americas, and the first Jesuit pope. He was also the first pope to choose the name Francis. Meeting with journalists in 2013, shortly after he became pope, he explained how he settled on the name: According to the Catholic Herald, a friend, Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes, "embraced me and kissed me and said, 'Don't forget the poor,' and that struck me. ... Immediately I thought of St. Francis of Assisi. Francis was a man of peace, a man of poverty, a man who loved and protected creation."
Other popes have chosen names that reflected their own values, their own heritage or their own heroes.
Why do popes choose new names?
Not all members of Catholic religious orders change their names upon entering ministry. But for those who do, accepting or choosing a new name is symbolic of that person's new stage in life, their entry into a new community and a new way of serving God and other people.
According to the Sioux Falls Bishop's Bulletin, popes began choosing new names early in the Catholic Church's history. In 533, a new pope was selected. His name, Mercurius, though, honored a Roman god, Mercury, and was considered a pagan name. He took the name of the prior pope, John, becoming John II, who'd been martyred.
Still, many popes continued to keep their given names until the 10th century, when it became a more common practice for popes to choose new names. The last pope to keep his given name was Marcellus II, elected in 1555.
Pope Francis gestures from a balcony while delivering an Easter Sunday message in St. Peter's Square. The pontiff died the following day.
What was the first pope's name?
St. Peter was the first pope, one of the twelve Apostles and the man who Catholics believe was ordained by Jesus himself. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus said to the man who'd been known as Simon, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church."
Catholics believe that after Jesus' death and resurrection, Peter became the earthly leader of the nascent church, spreading the Gospel and evangelizing throughout the Roman Empire. He is believed to have settled in Rome, where it's thought he was martyred around 64 AD.
What papal names have been used most?
John has been the most commonly chosen papal name: 23 pontiffs have taken that name. Part of the reason for that is a papal tradition of taking the name of one's predecessor. Another reason: There are dozens of Catholic saints named John (at least 126 of them, according to the Catholic news outlet Aleteia), including John the Baptist, John the Apostle (also called John the Evangelist for his work spreading Jesus' story), St. John of the Cross and St. John Damascene.
Francis' predecessor, Joseph Ratzinger, chose the second-most-used papal name when he became Benedict XVI. There have also been 16 popes named Gregory. Clement, Innocent, Leo and Pius have also been used often throughout church history.
Are there any names used just once?
Many popes have chosen names not used before or since, including (but not limited to): Lando (who served from 913-914), Romanus (897), Formosus (9891-896), Valentine (827), Zachary (741-752), Conon (686-687), Agatho (678-681), Vitalian (657-672), Severinus (638-640), Silverius (536-537), Hormisdas (514-523), Symmachus (498-514), Simplicius (468-483), Hilarius (461-468), Mark (336-337), Dionysius (259-268), Fabian (236-250) and Linus (64-76).
Peter, the first pope, was also the only one to have that name.
(This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How do popes pick their papal names? What you need to know