Any speculation on what the next pope will be named? [View All]

[liberalpragmatist]

Anybody familiar with papal naming conventions? I assume they won't pick up some long-unused name like "Anastasius" or "Lando" (actual Pope - 913-914).

This list of popes is pretty handy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_popes

In the last two centuries, common names have included Pius, John, Benedict, Gregory, Leo and, of course, John Paul.

I read somewhere that conventionally the pick will be something that is relatively familiar - as in a name that has been used recently.

Also, Popes do often seem to pick names to honor predecessors.

I think we may get a "Pope John Paul III" named in honor of the late Pope. However, I suppose that may be unlikely - looking through the list it's rare that popes of the same name follow each other, although this pope did.

Personally, having read some papal history over the past couple days, I think a good name would be Benedict - in honor of Pope Benedict XV who was very antiwar, tried to end WWI and was deeply involved in humanitarianism. It would be a good message to send to the world given the current state of peace on Earth.

I realize this is maybe a pointless thread given that nobody knows who will be Pope and the name is largely inconsequential. Plus, the name is solely the decision of the individual picked. Still, for Sunday afternoon musings, there could be worse.