Ever watched the white smoke drift out of the Sistine Chapel? It’s a moment frozen in time. Thousands of people are crammed into St. Peter’s Square, eyes glued to a chimney, waiting for a name. But here’s the thing—the name they hear isn't the one the guy was born with.
When Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio stepped onto that balcony in 2013, he didn't go by Jorge. He was Francis. And just recently in 2025, when the world met Leo XIV, he wasn't using his birth certificate name either.
So, do popes change their names because they have to, or is it just a weird tradition that stuck?
Honestly, it's a bit of both. It’s not a strict law written in stone, but it’s been the "done thing" for nearly a thousand years. It’s a total identity shift. Imagine getting a promotion and suddenly your boss says, "Cool, you're the CEO now, but your name is henceforth Bartholomew."
The Guy Named After a Pagan God
For the first few centuries of the Church, popes just kept their regular names. St. Peter was Peter (though even he got that nickname from Jesus—his birth name was Simon). For a long time, you’d have Popes named Linus, Cletus, or Clement. Totally normal, everyday names for the time.
Then came the year 533.
A guy named Mercurius was elected. Now, Mercurius is a cool name, but there was a massive problem: he was named after the Roman god Mercury. Having the head of the Christian Church named after a pagan deity was, well, awkward. It’s like a vegan activist being named "Colonel Sanders."
Mercurius decided he couldn't roll with that. He changed his name to John II to honor a previous pope who had been a martyr. He basically invented the papal name change out of pure necessity.
Even after John II, it didn't become an every-time thing immediately. It was sort of a slow burn. It wasn't until the 10th century, when more "foreign" popes (guys from Germany or France) started getting elected, that the name-changing really took off. Their birth names sounded too "barbaric" or strange to the Roman ears, so they swapped them for traditional Latin names to fit in.
When the Practice Became Permanent
By the time we hit the mid-1500s, the tradition was locked in. The last guy to actually keep his birth name was Marcellus II in 1555. He kept "Marcellus," which happened to be his real name. He only lasted 22 days in office, which is a bit of a bummer. Ever since he passed, every single pope has chosen a new "regnal" name.
Why? It’s deeply symbolic.
Choosing a name is the very first official act a new pope performs. Literally minutes after the vote is finalized, the Cardinal Dean walks up to him in the Sistine Chapel and asks in Latin: "By what name shall you be called?"
That choice tells the world exactly what kind of pope he plans to be. It’s a mission statement wrapped in a single word.
Why Certain Names Keep Popping Up
If you look at the list of popes, you’ll see a lot of repeats. It’s not because they lack creativity. It’s about signaling continuity.
- John: The most popular. There have been 21 legitimate Popes named John (the numbering gets messy because of some historical "antipopes" and record-keeping errors). It’s a name that screams "tradition" and honors both the Apostle and the Baptist.
- Benedict: Usually chosen by guys who want to focus on theology, scholarship, or peace. Benedict XVI chose it to honor Benedict XV (the "peace pope" of WWI) and St. Benedict, the father of Western monasticism.
- Leo: A powerhouse name. Leo XIV, elected in 2025, likely chose it to channel Leo XIII, the "Pope of the Workers" who fought for social justice during the industrial revolution.
- Pius: This was the "it" name for a long time. Between 1775 and 1958, seven out of eleven popes were named Pius. It usually signals a more traditionalist, conservative approach.
The One Name That Is Totally Off-Limits
You might notice there has never been a "Peter II."
There is no official rule saying a pope can't pick Peter. Technically, he could. But out of 266+ popes, not one has dared to touch it. It’s considered a mark of ultimate respect for St. Peter, the first pope.
Most theologians think it would be seen as incredibly arrogant. In fact, if a guy named Pietro (Peter) gets elected, he’s almost guaranteed to change it. This actually happened back in 983 with Pope John XIV; his birth name was Pietro Canepanova, and he changed it specifically to avoid the comparison.
The Odd Case of "The Firsts"
Usually, popes don't call themselves "The First" while they are alive. They are just "Pope Francis" or "Pope Lando." You only get the "I" added to your name once there is a "II."
But John Paul I broke that rule in 1978. He insisted on being called "John Paul the First" right from the jump. It was a weirdly prophetic move—he died only 33 days later, and his successor immediately became John Paul II.
Then you have Pope Francis. He didn't use the "I." He’s just Francis. If another guy chooses that name in 100 years, then our current Francis will retroactively become Francis I in the history books.
How to Understand a New Pope’s Vision
If you want to know what a new papacy will look like, look at the name. It’s the ultimate "vibe check."
When Jorge Bergoglio chose Francis, it was a shock. No pope had ever used that name. By picking it, he was telling the world he wanted to focus on the poor, the environment, and simplicity—the hallmarks of St. Francis of Assisi.
Similarly, when the current Pope Leo XIV chose his name, it signaled a pivot toward the social issues and labor rights associated with the Leo legacy.
Actionable Insights into Papal History
If you're following Vatican news or just curious about the process, keep these things in mind:
- The First Announcement: When the Cardinal announces "Habemus Papam," pay attention to the second name he says. The first is the birth name, the second is the new identity.
- Check the Predecessor: If a pope picks "Pius XIII" or "Benedict XVII," he’s likely signaling he will be more traditional.
- Look for New Names: If a pope picks a name that has never been used before (like Francis), expect a papacy that breaks the mold and focuses on a specific saint's charisma.
The name change is basically the ultimate "New Year, New Me," but on a global, spiritual scale. It’s a way for a man to leave his personal history behind and become a symbol for over a billion people.
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To get a better sense of how these choices impact the world, you can look up the "Rerum Novarum" encyclical by Leo XIII to see the weight behind the name chosen by our current pontiff.