Papal conclave: Why do Popes change their names — know the fascinating tradition

The conclave to select the successor of Pope Francis will begin at the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday afternoon, with a total of 133 cardinals expected to take part in the process in Rome.

All the cardinals, who are below the age of 80 years, are entitled to take part in the conclave, Reuters reported.

How do Popes pick papal names?

After being elected by the College of Cardinals, the new Pope can look forward to adopting a new name.


Jorge Bergoglio did the same when he ascended to the papacy. He later went on to be known as Pope Francis. This was to honour the 13th-century friar, St. Francis of Assisi. He opted out of his family's wealth and dedicated his life to working for the poor communities, according to USA Today.

The first one to choose this name, Pope Francis, had in 2013 discussed with the media why he opted for this time.

According to the Catholic Herald, Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes told Francis not to "forget the poor" and this was what struck him. He said that the immediate name that came to his mind was St. Francis of Assisi, whom he described as a "man of peace" and poverty.

Francis, who died on April 21, served as the first Jesuit pope of the church.

Apart from Pope Francis, several of his predecessors have taken on names that highlighted their own rich values and heritage.

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Why is this tradition practiced?

While several members of the Catholic religious orders have taken new names after selection, this has not been the same for all of them.

Accepting the new name by a Pope marks his entry into an all-new community. It is symbolic of the new stage in his life and a way to serve God and the people.

In the 2000-year-long history of the Catholic Church, the popes started opting for new names at an early stage, Sioux Falls Bishop's Bulletin states.

After getting selected in 533, Mercurius decided to take on the name of his predecessor, John, and went on to become popular as John II.

It became a common practice during the 10th century as several of them decided to go for new names. However, the last to stay with his original name was Marcellus II after his selection in 1555.

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FAQs

What's the name of the first pope?
St. Peter served as the maiden pope of the church.

Which papal name remains the most used by popes?
As of now, John remains the commonly used papal name, having been taken by 23 pontiffs.