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A person who is elected pope (Bishop of Rome) does not have to change his name, but many have done so. It is his decision, and the new name is normally announced to the cardinals when he accepts election.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoA pope does not have to change his name but most do. It is symbolic of Jesus changing the name of Simon to Peter at the time he named him as leader of his Church and the first pope. After Peter, the next pope to change his name was Pope John II in the year 533. He did so because his birth name was Mercurius and he did not think it proper for the pope to be named for a Roman god.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoImmediately following his election, the cardinal in charge of the conclave goes up to the candidate and asked if he accepts election as Pope. If he replies in the affirmative, the next question would be, "by what name do you wish to be know?". And the new Holy Father would reply, "Benedict" or "John" or "Paul". So the Holy Father chooses his own name for his own personal reasons.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoPopes do not have to take a new name but do it by custom and by choice. It signifies a change in the life of the cardinal to pope and is symbolic of Our Lord changing the name of Simon to Peter when he appointed him as the first pope. After that, the first to change his name was Pope John II (born Mercurius) and was pope from 533 to 535. He did not think it proper for a pope to be named after a pagan Roman God, Mercury.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago"They" don't choose a new name for the Pope, when a new Pope is chosen, the Cardinal in charge steps up to his seat and asks him, in Latin, if he accepts election. If he replies in the affirmative, then the Cardinal asks him by what name he would like to be know. If he wants, he may choose a name right then, and that is it.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoPopes are not required to change their names. However, most of them do following the lead of St. Peter who had is name changed by Christ from Simon.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoThey do not have to take a new name but most do out of respect for Simon who had his name changed to Peter by Jesus when he was appointed as the first pope.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoThe pope does not have to change his name but most do. It recognizes that Our Lord changed Simon's name to Peter when he named him the first leader of his church.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoThey are not required to change their names. They may keep their given name if they so wish.
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May a new pope choose the the name Peter?
A new Pope may choose whatever name he pleases. I don't think this is usually done out of respect for the first Pope.
Why is Pope Benedict called Pope Benedict even though it is not his real name?
Pope Benedict was able to choose a new name when he was elected Pope. Popes usually choose the name of a saint they admire.
How is the new pope named?
The pope chooses his name or may even wish to keep his birth name. It is not required for him to choose a new name.
Do popes choose names from a list?
No, they do not choose from a list. They may choose a name of a previous pope or choose a new name such as Pope John Paul I did.
Will the pope keep his name?
The newly elected pope can choose to use his birth name or he may choose to use a regnal name.
Why did they change the Pope's name?
"They" did not change the name of the new pope, When elected, the new pope has the choice of keeping his Christian name or choosing a regnal name that he wishes to be known as while serving. When Christ named Simon as the first pope he changed his name to Peter. After Peter, the next pope to choose a new name was Pope John II who was elected in the year 533. His given name was Mercurius and he did not think it proper for a Catholic pope to be named for a pagan Roman god - Mercury.
Why do popes have names like Pius or apostolic names is it possible there will ever be a pope Billy-Bob?
Mostly, the new pope should choose his name from the old name pope. The Cardinal and Bishop would not agree if that would be the case.
Who is the future pope?
We will not know until the current pope dies and the Cardinals choose a new pope in a secret conclave.
What full name did Joseph alois ratzinger choose when he became pope?
His name as pope is just Benedict XVI. Popes do not have last names when they become pope.
Why was the new Roman Emperor concern about his crowning by the pope?
He did not want people to think the pope had the power to choose who was emperor.
Why was the new Roman emperor concerned his crowning by the pope?
He did not want people to think the pope had the power to choose who was emperor.
When did Pope John Paul change his name?
Pope John Paul "Changed his name" just before the end of the Conclave of 1978, just after the Cardinals elected him pope and he accepted election. The cardinal from then on is the new pope, and the new pope, by his papal name.
