Why does the pope change his name as the Vatican welcomes Pope Leo XIV
Robert Prevost is the first ever American pope, having been elected by the world's cardinals this week.
This week's conclave elected the first ever American pope. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of the United States has been elected as the 267th pope after Pope Francis died last month at the age of 88.
The 69-year-old Chicago-born pontiff will go by Pope Leo XIV. Leo has spent much of his career as a missionary in South America and recently led a powerful Vatican office for bishop appointments around the world.
He first started his career in the church as a missionary in Peru, before becoming an archbishop, having also acquired Peruvian citizenship in 2015. The late pope Francis had been watching him for years, appointing him to lead the Diocese of Chiclayo, Pere, in 2014.
He served there until 2023, when Pope Francis brought him to Rome for his current position. Before becoming pope, he served as the prior general of the Order of St. Augustine, which is a religious community of mendicant friars founded in the 13th century and devoted to poverty, service, and evangelisation.
But as Robert Prevost announced his papal name to be Pope Leo XIV, questions are being raised on why exactly the pope must change his name for the papacy.
So why is it that the pope changes his name? Here's everything you need to know.
Why does the pope change his name?
While Pope Francis may have been the first of his name, usually the pontiff takes a name from a predecessor.
This explains why the new Pope Leo is the fourteenth of his name, or why Francis' predecessor Benedict was Pope Benedict XVI.
This tradition comes from the middle ages. St. Peter, the first pope and one of the 12 apostles of the bible, was renamed from his birth name of Simon by Jesus. However, this was before he became head of the church, according to CNN.
Pope John II, who was head of the church from 533 to 535, reportedly started this name changing tradition when he dropped the name Mercurius, which he thought was too similar to the name of the pagan god Mercury.
After the 10th century, it became common practice for the pope to take a new name, as popes from other European countries such as France and Germany adopted more Italian-sounding names to mimic their predecessors.
Nowadays, the pope chooses a new name to reflect the values he will bring to the papacy.
For example, Pope Francis chose his papal name to honour St. Francis of Assisi, with his love for peace and nature, as well as his care for the poor, which were the priorities for Francis' papacy.
The new Pope has not yet specified why he has decided to be known as Pope Leo XIV, but he is the 14th pontiff to take the name.
Pope Leo I, also known as St Leo the Great, was pontiff between 440 and 461 AD.
He was the 45th pope in history and became known for his commitment to peace, reported the BBC.
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