WHY POPES CHANGE THEIR NAMES UPON ELECTION

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My Catholic faith: Why do Popes change their names when elected? 

A cross section of Cardinals a the Conclave

Preamble 

The Church has no strict doctrine or Catechism that requires a newly elected Pope to take a new name after their inauguration ceremony. In fact, for centuries a new pope would simply continues to use their birth name. Today, after the counting of ballots produces a consensus candidate, a Papal Conclave will ask the new pope “By which name will you be known?” However, if taking a papal name is not a requirement, why then do they change their names?

The Origin in brief

The tradition first started in the year 533 with Pope John II taking on a new moniker. His birth name was Mercurius, his parents having named him after Mercury in the Roman mythology. Upon his election, he thought it would be inappropriate of the Holy See to have a supreme pontiff in office with the name of a pagan god. He took his papal name after Pope John I, who was martyred just seven years earlier.

Why do Popes change their names when elected? 

After all the ballots are counted and a cardinal is chosen to be the next pope, he is asked the question, “By what name shall you be called?” And usually if he's the first one to use a particular name, there won't be a numeral attached, as with the current pope, Francis. 

In choosing a name, it is believed that the Holy Spirit helps the Pope decide, as the name has a role in setting the tone for the whole of the Papacy.

Pope Paul VI

In the past century, several popes chose their name to honor one of their predecessors. Pope John Paul I chose his double name to honor both Paul VI and John XXIII. Then John Paul II chose his name to honor John Paul I.

Pope Benedict XVI chose his name to honor both Pope Benedict XV and St. Benedict of Nursia. The name’s more symbolic meaning represented the tone of his papacy, as he related in a general audience.

Pope Francis broke recent traditions to choose an entirely new name that has never been used by a pope before. This was the first time this has happened since the 10th century. He said that the name came to him while a cardinal embraced him immediately after his election.

[The cardinal embraced me and said], ‘Don’t forget the poor’ … and that struck me … the poor … Immediately I thought of Saint Francis of Assisi. Francis was a man of peace, a man of poverty, a man who loved and protected creation. That was when he chose the name Francis, he explained, adding: “How I would love a Church that is poor and for the poor.”

Pope Francis

Conclusion 

The last pope to retain their birth name was Pope Marcellus II, born Marcello Cervini degli Spannochi, in 1555. After his papacy, all of his successors took on a new papal name. However, until the election of Pope Francis, there were no new papal names since the year 918. Names were simply reused, with the most popular being John, used over 21 times. Pope Francis is one of the 44 popes to have a unique papal name.