09-05-2025
Popes Can Choose Any Name They Want. Here's Why Peter Is Always Skipped
When Robert Francis Prevost stepped out on the balcony as Pope Leo XIV, he reintroduced himself to the world.
But how did he choose his regnal name?
'There are very few rules for the man at the top, so they're allowed to choose what they want,' Joshua McManaway, who teaches about the history of the Papacy, told The Pillar. However, no pope choses the name 'Peter,' out of respect for Saint Peter the Apostle, the first pope.
'I suspect it is humility or perhaps even because one does not want to compare oneself to the one pope we know Christ chose himself. That may be a bridge too far!' McManaway added. 'It is an unwritten rule; it would be fair game. But I think anyone would cause great scandal if they chose Peter II.'
However, he clarifies, 'Paul is safe. You're allowed to chose Paul.'
For five centuries, popes didn't change their name upon being elected pope; instead, they kept their birth name. Starting in 533, however, a priest named Mercurius decided to change his name to Pope John II, likely not wanting a name associated with a Roman god. That said, popes choosing a regnal name didn't become tradition until the 11th century, and Pope Marcellus II in 1555 officially became the last pope to keep his birth name.
Papal regnal names often have historical significance. 'Linking to the names of previous popes who weathered crises, inspired reform, or were incredibly popular can often, although not always, play a role in the choosing of a name,' Liam Temple, assistant professor in the history of Catholicism at the Centre for Catholic Studies at Durham University, told CNN.
Pope Francis, for example, chose to honor Saint Francis of Assisi. Pope Benedict XVI, meanwhile, chose his name in honor of Saint Benedict and Pope Benedict XV. Throughout history, there have been a few common pope names: John (21 popes), Gregory (16), Benedict (15), Clement (14), and Innocent (13). Leo is also a popular choice, now having been selected by 14 pontiffs. In contrast, there have been 44 papal names used only once—including Francis, who was the first uniquely named pope in over 1,000 years.
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