Latest news with #GospelofJohn
Indianapolis Star
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
'No credit or consent.' Composer says Indiana Bible College stole her song for streaming
An Indiana Bible school is under scrutiny after a composer took to social media to claim it infringed on her copyrighted work and is selling music based on her composition. Choral music composer Rosephanye Powell said an Indiana Bible College choir copied, altered and performed her song without permission. Powell, a professor at Auburn University in Alabama, said Indiana Bible College's 'John 1' uses elements of her 'The Word Was God.' She and her publisher, Glendale, California-based Gentry Publications, had denied usage to the Indiana college last year, according to Powell. The a cappella song is based on the first chapter in the Bible's Gospel of John. Powell is well-known in the choral community. The American Choral Directors Association honored Powell with its 2025 Raymond Brock Memorial Commission, a prestigious award. Her new work premiered at the organization's national conference this spring. 'Rosephanye Powell is one of the most important female composers of choral music in the United States today – if not the most important,' said Stephen Bock, president of Fred Bock Music Co. Inc., which owns Gentry Publications. 'The Word Was God' was her first publication and is her most iconic work, Bock said. Powell composed the song when she and her husband, William C. Powell, now music professor and director of choral activities at Auburn, were co-conductors for the collegiate choir at Philander Smith College, an HBCU in Arkansas. The choir there in 1996 was the first to perform it. 'There is no doubt that what Indiana Bible College has done is infringe on the copyright of 'The Word Was God,' Bock said. 'This song is undeniably a derivative of my work,' she said in a May 23 Facebook post, adding that the Indiana choir made minor alterations to notes, rests and rhythms to "The Word Was God." The bible college choir had performed an unapproved arrangement of her song in early 2024, titled 'The Word Was God,' using a band and a soloist and uploaded it to TikTok, Powell said in a May 23 Facebook post. Indiana Bible College initially contacted Gentry Publications in January 2024, seeking permission to produce a gospel arrangement of 'The Word Was God,' but recorded the song and released a video before getting the approval from Powell and the publisher, Bock said. Gentry Publications rejected the request and directed the choir to destroy the music and remove the video, according to Bock. Indiana Bible College choir director Tim Hall had told Powell that, as a high school choral director, he'd performed the song years before, and in April 2024, he again requested to use the music, this time for a performance at an international music festival at the school. Powell and Gentry said no. 'And then the next thing we knew, in April of 2025, they released 'John 1,' which we feel is completely derivative of 'The Word Was God,'' Bock said. The Indiana choir was using material from 'The Word Was God,' but presenting 'John 1' as an original composition, he said. 'What came out in April of this year, 'John 1,' we contend is a slight — and by slight, I mean slight — reworking of the gospel arrangement of 'The Word Was God' that they tried to get permission for in 2024,' Bock said. 'So legally, it is a derivative of a derivative. 'What makes this egregious is the historical record of their interest in 'The Word Was God,' going back to January of 2024, and their continued insistence that it's original work when it is obvious that it is not.' Gentry learned of the 'John 1' song a couple of days after the school's April 26 upload of a music video for the song to YouTube, and contacted the college the April 30, alleging copyright infringement. The publisher made the copyright claim against the 'John 1' video to YouTube in mid-May, and by the morning of May 20, the platform had removed the music video, Bock said. At that point, the video had about 940,000 views, he said. Powell, who also has taught at Philander Smith and Georgia Southern University, said Indiana Bible College is profiting from the song through sales on its website and digital platforms. "John 1" debuted on Apple Music on May 2, 2025. Since she began sharing her story on social media last week, the school has posted that it is attempting to determine the legalities. IndyStar has reached out to Indiana Bible College for comment, but has not received a response. Others are reading: Why authors of 'Back Home Again' were accused of stealing from another iconic Indiana song Hall and other credited arrangers of the unlicensed 2024 arrangement are listed as composers of 'John 1' and claim 'The Word Was God' is not part of the new work, Powell said in the May 23 Facebook post. Hall is also associate dean of worship studies at Indiana Bible College. 'The disregard for me and my work is both unprofessional and deeply troubling. As an African American composer, I am acutely aware of our nation's history of Black artists having their musical property taken without credit or consent. That history makes Mr. Hall's actions especially egregious, given his role in guiding young singers, arrangers, and musicians,' Powell said in the post. 'What is most disheartening is that I communicated my position to Mr. Hall very politely and respectfully a year ago, making it clear why I could not approve.' In a May 26 social media post, Powell said she felt strongly the song should not be performed with a band or soloist, as the Indiana choir had done without permission in 2024. She intended the a cappella piece to be restricted to human voices to convey God's speaking creation. 'I wanted people to get a picture of how God's word created the world,' Powell said. 'I was trying to spread not just the message, but give them a picture of what God's voice did as he spoke. One day there's trees, then there's the sun, there's the moon, there's the stars, then there's shrubbery, there's water. A picture of the Earth is being created through voices.' While the Scripture is not copyrighted, the harmonies and rhythms used in 'The Word Was God' are, Powell said. 'That, for me, is about integrity,' she said in the video. ' It is not about the money. They're the ones making the money.' 'And what's worse is this time they're saying it's an original work, which means it uses none of my work whatsoever. But this is not true. Sections of this song are my work, so it's exactly as before,' she said. 'At least before they said they were using my work, they just didn't get a license for it and didn't inform me in advance or get permission. Now they say none of it is my work.' I am so grateful for the support of so many of you! I hope this video clarifies some of the questions concerning the backstory of the situation with Indiana Bible College's 'John 1.' #fypシ #foryoupage #fyp #indianabiblecollege #thewordwasgod #john1 #rosephanyepowell #copyrightinfringement Many in the music community are standing up for Powell. 'This is not homage. This is THEFT. It is a violation of copyright law and a blatant disrespect of a Black female composer's intellectual property. Historically, we have seen this happen often where black artists have repeatedly had their creative works stolen, imitated, or repackaged without credit or compensation,' said Antwoin Holman, a high school choral music director in Douglasville, Georgia, on Facebook. 'This pattern of exploitation must be called out and challenged and IBC we are holding your feet to the fire.' Powell also has the support of J. W. Pepper, the world's largest sheet music retailer. The 149-year-old company on May 28 posted to its Facebook page, 'We stand with Rosephanye Powell. As a champion of original music, we support the artists whose work we distribute,' the company posted on May 28. ' We applaud Dr. Powell's courage in speaking out to defend her intellectual property. Creative work is not only labor—it's legacy.' Bock said Gentry had been trying to resolve the issue privately. On May 23, the publisher emailed Indiana Bible College a 20-page letter detailing its case for 'John 1' being derivative of 'The Word Was God.' Bock said the school responded on May 25, saying, 'We are in the process of evaluating the extensive analysis you shared of 'John 1' relative to 'The Word Was God, and will provide a full response as soon as it is practicable.' Gentry has had nothing directly from the school since, Bock said. 'They're supposed to be getting a response to us. I don't know what it means for timing. As of right now, the ball is in their court.' A post shared by Indiana Bible College (@ Indiana Bible College, founded in 1981 and currently located at 1502 E. Sumner Avenue, posted to its social media accounts that it working on clearing up the matter in private. 'The release of the choral arrangement 'John 1' has been met with claims of copyright infringement," it said. "Establishing whether copyright infringement has occurred is extraordinarily fact sensitive, and parties to copyright infringement disputes frequently genuinely disagree whether the legal standard for infringement has been met. We are actively discussing the matter privately with the only party that has a legal standing to dispute the matter.'
Indianapolis Star
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
'No credit or consent.' Composer says Indiana Bible College stole her song for streaming
An Indiana Bible school is under scrutiny after a composer took to social media to claim it infringed on her copyrighted work and is selling music based on her composition. Choral music composer Rosephanye Powell said an Indiana Bible College choir copied, altered and performed her song without permission. Powell, a professor at Auburn University in Alabama, said Indiana Bible College's 'John 1' uses elements of her 'The Word Was God.' She and her publisher, Glendale, California-based Gentry Publications, had denied usage to the Indiana college last year, according to Powell. The a cappella song is based on the first chapter in the Bible's Gospel of John. Powell is well-known in the choral community. The American Choral Directors Association honored Powell with its 2025 Raymond Brock Memorial Commission, a prestigious award. Her new work premiered at the organization's national conference this spring. 'Rosephanye Powell is one of the most important female composers of choral music in the United States today – if not the most important,' said Stephen Bock, president of Fred Bock Music Co. Inc., which owns Gentry Publications. 'The Word Was God' was her first publication and is her most iconic work, Bock said. Powell composed the song when she and her husband, William C. Powell, now music professor and director of choral activities at Auburn, were co-conductors for the collegiate choir at Philander Smith College, an HBCU in Arkansas. The choir there in 1996 was the first to perform it. 'There is no doubt that what Indiana Bible College has done is infringe on the copyright of 'The Word Was God,' Bock said. 'This song is undeniably a derivative of my work,' she said in a May 23 Facebook post, adding that the Indiana choir made minor alterations to notes, rests and rhythms to "The Word Was God." The bible college choir had performed an unapproved arrangement of her song in early 2024, titled 'The Word Was God,' using a band and a soloist and uploaded it to TikTok, Powell said in a May 23 Facebook post. Indiana Bible College initially contacted Gentry Publications in January 2024, seeking permission to produce a gospel arrangement of 'The Word Was God,' but recorded the song and released a video before getting the approval from Powell and the publisher, Bock said. Gentry Publications rejected the request and directed the choir to destroy the music and remove the video, according to Bock. Indiana Bible College choir director Tim Hall had told Powell that, as a high school choral director, he'd performed the song years before, and in April 2024, he again requested to use the music, this time for a performance at an international music festival at the school. Powell and Gentry said no. 'And then the next thing we knew, in April of 2025, they released 'John 1,' which we feel is completely derivative of 'The Word Was God,'' Bock said. The Indiana choir was using material from 'The Word Was God,' but presenting 'John 1' as an original composition, he said. 'What came out in April of this year, 'John 1,' we contend is a slight — and by slight, I mean slight — reworking of the gospel arrangement of 'The Word Was God' that they tried to get permission for in 2024,' Bock said. 'So legally, it is a derivative of a derivative. 'What makes this egregious is the historical record of their interest in 'The Word Was God,' going back to January of 2024, and their continued insistence that it's original work when it is obvious that it is not.' Gentry learned of the 'John 1' song a couple of days after the school's April 26 upload of a music video for the song to YouTube, and contacted the college the April 30, alleging copyright infringement. The publisher made the copyright claim against the 'John 1' video to YouTube in mid-May, and by the morning of May 20, the platform had removed the music video, Bock said. At that point, the video had about 940,000 views, he said. Powell, who also has taught at Philander Smith and Georgia Southern University, said Indiana Bible College is profiting from the song through sales on its website and digital platforms. "John 1" debuted on Apple Music on May 2, 2025. Since she began sharing her story on social media last week, the school has posted that it is attempting to determine the legalities. IndyStar has reached out to Indiana Bible College for comment, but has not received a response. Others are reading: Why authors of 'Back Home Again' were accused of stealing from another iconic Indiana song Hall and other credited arrangers of the unlicensed 2024 arrangement are listed as composers of 'John 1' and claim 'The Word Was God' is not part of the new work, Powell said in the May 23 Facebook post. Hall is also associate dean of worship studies at Indiana Bible College. 'The disregard for me and my work is both unprofessional and deeply troubling. As an African American composer, I am acutely aware of our nation's history of Black artists having their musical property taken without credit or consent. That history makes Mr. Hall's actions especially egregious, given his role in guiding young singers, arrangers, and musicians,' Powell said in the post. 'What is most disheartening is that I communicated my position to Mr. Hall very politely and respectfully a year ago, making it clear why I could not approve.' In a May 26 social media post, Powell said she felt strongly the song should not be performed with a band or soloist, as the Indiana choir had done without permission in 2024. She intended the a cappella piece to be restricted to human voices to convey God's speaking creation. 'I wanted people to get a picture of how God's word created the world,' Powell said. 'I was trying to spread not just the message, but give them a picture of what God's voice did as he spoke. One day there's trees, then there's the sun, there's the moon, there's the stars, then there's shrubbery, there's water. A picture of the Earth is being created through voices.' While the Scripture is not copyrighted, the harmonies and rhythms used in 'The Word Was God' are, Powell said. 'That, for me, is about integrity,' she said in the video. ' It is not about the money. They're the ones making the money.' 'And what's worse is this time they're saying it's an original work, which means it uses none of my work whatsoever. But this is not true. Sections of this song are my work, so it's exactly as before,' she said. 'At least before they said they were using my work, they just didn't get a license for it and didn't inform me in advance or get permission. Now they say none of it is my work.' Many in the music community are standing up for Powell. 'This is not homage. This is THEFT. It is a violation of copyright law and a blatant disrespect of a Black female composer's intellectual property. Historically, we have seen this happen often where black artists have repeatedly had their creative works stolen, imitated, or repackaged without credit or compensation,' said Antwoin Holman, a high school choral music director in Douglasville, Georgia, on Facebook. 'This pattern of exploitation must be called out and challenged and IBC we are holding your feet to the fire.' Powell also has the support of J. W. Pepper, the world's largest sheet music retailer. The 149-year-old company on May 28 posted to its Facebook page, 'We stand with Rosephanye Powell. As a champion of original music, we support the artists whose work we distribute,' the company posted on May 28. ' We applaud Dr. Powell's courage in speaking out to defend her intellectual property. Creative work is not only labor—it's legacy.' Bock said Gentry had been trying to resolve the issue privately. On May 23, the publisher emailed Indiana Bible College a 20-page letter detailing its case for 'John 1' being derivative of 'The Word Was God.' Bock said the school responded on May 25, saying, 'We are in the process of evaluating the extensive analysis you shared of 'John 1' relative to 'The Word Was God, and will provide a full response as soon as it is practicable.' Gentry has had nothing directly from the school since, Bock said. 'They're supposed to be getting a response to us. I don't know what it means for timing. As of right now, the ball is in their court.' Indiana Bible College, founded in 1981 and currently located at 1502 E. Sumner Avenue, posted to its social media accounts that it working on clearing up the matter in private. 'The release of the choral arrangement 'John 1' has been met with claims of copyright infringement," it said. "Establishing whether copyright infringement has occurred is extraordinarily fact sensitive, and parties to copyright infringement disputes frequently genuinely disagree whether the legal standard for infringement has been met. We are actively discussing the matter privately with the only party that has a legal standing to dispute the matter.'
Irish Daily Mirror
27-05-2025
- General
- Irish Daily Mirror
Archaeologists 'confirm' site of Jesus' water-into-wine miracle
After centuries of speculation, the location where Jesus Christ is said to have turned water into wine, as per biblical accounts, may finally have been discovered. The Gospel of John recounts this miracle - the first attributed to Jesus - occurring at a wedding in Cana, Galilee. The narrative tells of Jesus' mother Mary, who was present at the wedding along with her son and his disciples, noticing that the wine had run out. It is at this point that Jesus performs the transformation of water into wine, showcasing his divine prowess. The site of this purported miracle has remained elusive for 2,000 years, but archaeologists now believe they may have solved the mystery. Excavations at the erstwhile site of Khirbet Qana - a Jewish village from 323 BC to 324 AD - revealed several intriguing clues, as reported by the Daily Mail. Archaeologists unearthed a series of tunnels used for Christian worship, adorned with crosses and inscriptions of 'Kyrie Iesou', a Greek phrase translating to Lord Jesus, reports the Express. Artifacts such as an altar and a shelf bearing the remnants of a stone vessel were found, suggesting that weddings might have taken place there. The Gospel account mentions that the wine was stored in six stone jars akin to the one discovered at Khirbet Qana. Dr Tom McCollough, who supervised the excavations at the site, located in present-day Israel, acknowledged that there are three other sites with plausible claims to being the location of the miracle. "But none has the ensemble of evidence that makes such a persuasive case for Khirbet Qana," he said. "We have uncovered a large Christian veneration cave complex that was used by Christian pilgrims who came to venerate the water-to-wine miracle. This complex was used beginning in the late fifth or early sixth century and continued to be used by pilgrims into the 12th-century Crusader period. "The pilgrim texts we have from this period that describe what pilgrims did and saw when they came to Cana of Galilee match very closely what we have exposed as the veneration complex." In his findings, Dr McCollough highlights the work of the first-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, which he claims "align logically" with the description of the site. While it's been widely believed that the miracle occurred in the Arab town of Kafr Kanna, Dr McCollough expresses his scepticism regarding this claim. He said, discussing modern tourism, "When tourists visiting Israel today are taken to Cana, they are taken to Kafr Kanna," Further to this, he critiques the lack of historical precision saying: "However, this site was not recognised as a pilgrimage site for those seeking Cana until the 1700s. At this point the Franciscans were managing Christian pilgrimage and facilitating easy passage rather than historical accuracy." Adding to the implications of his discovery, Dr McCollough shared his belief the finds at Khirbet Qana could lend credence to the historical validity of the Gospel of John. He commented on the significance of the location: "Our excavations have shown that this was in fact a thriving Jewish village located in the heart of much of Jesus' life and ministry. For the Gospel of John, Cana is in some ways, Jesus' safe place or operational centre. "It is a place he and his disciples return to when they encounter resistance in Judea. I would argue our excavations warrant at least a reconsideration of the historical value of John's references to Cana and Jesus."
Daily Record
12-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Archaeologists' 'incredible discovery' as they 'find' Jesus tomb
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem has been the subject of an ongoing excavation, which has now confirmed the existence of a garden and new burial chamber as detailed in the Bible Recent findings of an ancient structure in Jerusalem match precisely with the biblical description of Jesus' tomb. The exact location, as described in the Gospel of John, has been revealed by architects working at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem: "Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus." Archaeobotanical and pollen analysis conducted on samples taken from beneath the ancient basilica's floor confirmed the presence of olive trees and grapevines. These discoveries suggest that the site dates back to the pre-Christian era, although radiocarbon testing is still pending. Prof Francesca Romana Stasolla of the Sapienza University of Rome told the Times of Israel: "We know that the area was already part of the city at the time of Emperor Hadrian when the Romans built Aelia Capitolina," referring to the Roman city constructed atop the ruins of Jerusalem in the first half of the 2nd century CE. She added: "However, at the time of Jesus, the area was not part of the city yet." Christian tradition holds that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre marks the spot of Jesus' crucifixion (known as Calvary or Golgotha) and his nearby tomb, which today is topped by an aedicule erected in 1810, reports the Express. Stasolla has been leading the charge in the excavations that began in 2022, following an agreement reached by the church's primary custodians - the Orthodox Patriarchate, the Custody of the Holy Land, and the Armenian Patriarchate - in 2019, after protracted internal disagreements. The revamp includes updating the basilica's predominantly 19th-century floor, marking the most substantial restoration since the fire of 1808. The Israel Antiquities Authority issued a permit for the dig, ensuring it met the nation's legal stipulations for archaeological work. "During the renovation works, the religious communities decided to also permit archaeological excavations beneath the floor," Stasolla disclosed to The Times of Israel in her initial detailed discussion concerning the project. She added: "However, currently, we do not have any active excavation sites as the church is preparing for Easter, when it needs to be fully accessible to pilgrims." She highlighted the critical nature of handling such a sensitive site with extreme care due to its importance and practical demands. The archaeological team consists exclusively of Italians affiliated with La Sapienza University. Stasolla commented: "We work in shifts, but our team in Jerusalem always comprises 10 or 12 individuals. The atmosphere here is truly unique; we have received a warm welcome and established strong bonds with everyone." Occasionally, experts in specific fields such as geologists, archaeobotanists, or archaeozoologists from Rome work alongside the archaeologists in Jerusalem. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was under renovation in March 2025. "We take turns, but our team in Jerusalem always includes 10 or 12 people," Stasolla said. "The atmosphere here is very special; we have been welcomed warmly and built strong relationships with everyone." Occasionally, specialists like geologists, archaeobotanists, or archaeozoologists from Rome join the archaeological team in Jerusalem. Archaeologists from Rome's Sapienza University are currently digging at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. (Archivio Università di Roma La Sapienza). "However, most of our team remains based in Rome, where we send the data for the post-production work," Stasolla explains. "While we have not been able to see the entire church excavated in one glance, new technologies are allowing us to reconstruct the bigger picture in our labs," Stasolla said. "If we were talking about a puzzle, we could say we are only excavating one piece at a time, but eventually, we will have a complete multimedia reconstruction of the full picture." The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a site of immense historical significance in Jerusalem, has endured cycles of destruction and restoration over many centuries. Originally built by Emperor Constantine in the fourth century, who was the first to convert to Christianity, it faced devastation from a fire set by Persians in the seventh century and was attacked by Caliph al-Hakim in 1009. Its current structure owes much to the extensive renovations carried out during the Crusader period in the 12th century. According to Stasolla, the hidden layers beneath the church's floor provide a remarkable chronicle of Jerusalem's past, tracing back to the Iron Age (1200-586 BCE). "The church is built on a quarry, which isn't surprising as a large portion of the Old City of Jerusalem is situated on a quarry," said Stasolla. "The quarry was operational during the Iron Age. During our excavation, we discovered pottery, lamps, and other everyday items from that era." After the quarry fell into disuse and before the church was constructed, the area was repurposed for agricultural activities. "Low stone walls were constructed, and the space between them was filled with soil," detailed Stasolla. "The archaeobotanical findings have been particularly intriguing for us, given what is mentioned in the Gospel of John, believed to be written or compiled by someone familiar with Jerusalem at the time. The Gospel refers to a green area between the Calvary and the tomb, and we identified these cultivated fields." Remarkable discoveries tied to the era of Constantine have surfaced at a Jerusalem site that traces back to the time of Jesus. The area served as both a quarry and a necropolis, with numerous rock-hewn tombs scattered across different levels. "We need to imagine that as the quarry was progressively abandoned, tombs were carved at different levels. "The area, therefore, featured several burials from that period. Constantine selected the one that had been venerated as the tomb where Jesus was buried, and he excavated around it in the area that corresponds to the current rotunda, isolating it from the other burials." Within the grounds of the Holy Sepulchre complex rest various ancient sepulchres, including one honoured by Christian tradition as belonging to Joseph of Arimathea, who is said to have provided his own tomb for Jesus' burial. Professor Francesca Stasolla's research group encountered an array of artefacts regarded as dating from the fourth century. Digging beneath the contemporary edifice, she found: "Under the current aedicule, we found a circular basis that is part of the first monumentalization of the tomb, made out of marble." Stasolla underscored the finding's importance, noting: "It is interesting because the most ancient depictions of the aedicule, which date back to the 5th and 6th centuries, describe it as circular. We therefore believe that this circular basis was part of the original structure built by Constantine." The artifact, spanning an impressive six meters across, may uncover new secrets about the revered edifice's history. "We are conducting geological analysis to verify the origin of the marble, and we are also testing the mortar," shared Stasolla, suggesting these tests could be pivotal in understanding the construction. Remarkably, a trove of centuries-old coins dating back to the fourth century has been uncovered in the eastern part of the current rotunda. The oldest coin is from the reign of Constantius II (337–361 CE), with others from the era of Valens (374–378 CE). Adding to their findings, the team unearthed numerous animal bones that highlight a history of feasting by priests and pilgrims. A 2023 preliminary report in "Liber Annuus," a peer-reviewed journal, documents a structural trench from the Crusader period and a modern manhole pit excavation, which revealed animal remains, fish, and shells. Stasolla further revealed: "We also discovered several shells of a terrestrial snail species that is still consumed today," a species tracing its expansion around the Mediterranean after the Crusades. The archaeologist highlighted the need for thorough analysis of the discovered bones to gain a deeper insight into the changing dietary habits of those who lived in and frequented the Church over the ages. It's expected that the scientific examination of all the findings from the dig, which includes some 100,000 shards of pottery, will span several years. Despite this, the digs are set to restart post-Easter and are projected to wrap up within months. "We only have a part of the northern aisle left to excavate," Stasolla disclosed. When asked whether archaeology could ever conclusively prove if Jesus was indeed interred at the Holy Sepulchre, Stasolla underscored the importance of distinguishing between faith and historical fact. "However, it is the faith of those who have believed in the sanctity of this site for millennia that has allowed it to exist and evolve," she noted. "This is true for all holy sites. "The real treasure we are discovering is the history of the people who made this site what it is by expressing their faith here," she added. "Whether someone believes or not in the historicity of the Holy Sepulchre, the fact that generations of people did is objective. The history of this place is the history of Jerusalem, and from a certain point, it is the history of the worship of Jesus Christ."
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Here's what the name of a pope signifies
Now that the cardinal electors have selected a new pope, he will choose his papal name, which will be announced when the pontiff is introduced on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. There are no written rules or official criteria for a pope's name, but they choose names that have meaning in the Catholic tradition. The significance of a pope's name The name the new pope chooses will "indicate a certain spirit and direction and vision of the new pope," said Dennis Doyle, a theologian and professor emeritus of religious studies at the University of Dayton. "The first thing that you would look for would be, which popes had that name before?" he said. "That would signify something about the direction that the pope wants to take." Pope Francis, whose birth name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio, chose a papal name that hadn't been chosen by a pope before, so in his case, "you have to ask, well, are there any biblical figures or people in the tradition who have had that name?" For Francis, it was Saint Francis of Assisi, known for his charity and simplicity. "If the new pope calls himself Francis II, that will say a lot," Doyle said, explaining it will show that he "wants to continue what Francis did." If he chooses a name like John Paul III, "that's going to say something else about what direction this pope is going to take the church." What are the most common papal names? The names most used by popes have been: John: 23 timesBenedict: 16 timesGregory: 16 timesClement: 14 timesInnocent: 13 timesLeo: 13 timesPius: 12 times "There could be more than one reference in the name that the pope chooses," Doyle explained. For example, Pope Benedict XVI paid homage to Benedict XV, who led the church during World War I, but also to St. Benedict of Nursia, who founded the Benedictine Order and influenced the spread of Christianity throughout Europe. The name John, the most popular, could refer back to the Gospel of John, which is one of "the most loved of the gospels," Doyle said. It can also refer to St. John the Baptist, the prophet who baptized Jesus. Have popes always changed their names? Not every pope in history has changed his name. Out of 266 popes, 129 have chosen new names, according to Vatican News. The practice became more ingrained around the 11th century, a period of German popes who chose names of early church bishops out of "a desire to signify continuity," Rev. Roberto Regoli, a historian at Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University, told The Associated Press. For many centuries, new popes tended to choose the name of the pope who had elevated them to cardinal. Only starting in the mid-20th century did new popes begin to choose names signaling the aim of their papacy, Regoli said. Names never chosen by a pope Some biblical names that haven't been used by a pope are Joseph, James and Andrew. Popes also have not chosen the name Peter, out of respect for St. Peter, a disciple of Jesus who is recognized as the first pope, experts say. Sneak peek: The Depraved Heart Murder World awaits new pope after conclave's vote Vatican erupts in cheers as white smoke signals new pope on Day 2 of conclave
