Reply #11: Often they pick names to signal who they'll follow. [View All]

[KitSileya]

When Angelo Cardinal Roncalli chose John XXIII in 1958, it was scandalous, there hadn't been a John in centuries, and there'd already been a John 24 as anti-pope. John Paul I chose his names as a homage to John XXII and his succesor, Paul VI. JP II chose his name as a homage to the 33-day pope JP I. Of course, there are other factors influencing the choice as well.

That was why the name of the new pope was eagerly speculated upon - a John XXIV would signal a return to the spirit of Vatican 2 of the 60s, JP III that he would follow closely the politics of the previous pope, etc. That the new pope has chosen a completely different name than the last couple of popes may signal that he is determined to forge his own way - even tho' we expect him to be a JP II, the more severe edition. My first thought was that he seems determined to step out of the shadow of JP II.