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{{Short description|Regnal name taken by a pope}}{{Refimprove|date=March 2010}}{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2013}} in the Vatican.]]A papal name or pontificial name is the regnal name taken by a pope. Both the head of the Catholic Church, usually known as the pope, and the pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria (Coptic pope) choose papal names. {{As of|2013}}, Pope Francis is the Catholic pope, and Tawadros II or Theodoros II is the Coptic pope. This article discusses and lists the names of Catholic popes; another article has a list of Coptic Orthodox popes of Alexandria.While popes in the early centuries retained their birth names after their accession to the papacy, later popes began to adopt a new name upon their accession. This started in the sixth century and became customary in the tenth century. Since 1555, every pope has taken a papal name.The pontificial name is given in Latin by virtue of the pope's status as bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church. The pope is also given an Italian name by virtue of his Vatican citizenship and because of his position as primate of Italy. However, it is customary when referring to popes to translate the regnal name into all local languages. Thus, for example, Papa Franciscus is Papa Francesco in Italian, Papa Francisco in his native Spanish, and Pope Francis in English.

Title and honorifics

Catholic

The official style of the Catholic pope in English is "His Holiness Pope [papal name]". 'Holy Father' is another honorific often used for popes.The full title, rarely used, of the Catholic pope in English is: "His Holiness [papal name], Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the Vatican City State, Servant of the servants of God".

Coptic

The official title of the leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria is "Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of all Africa on the Holy See of St. Mark the Apostle, the Successor of St. Mark the Evangelist, Holy Apostle and Martyr, on the Holy Apostolic Throne of the Great City of Alexandria".Within the Coptic Church, he is considered to be Father of Fathers, Shepherd of Shepherds, and Hierarch of all Hierarchs. Honorary titles attributed to the Hierarch of the Alexandrine Throne also include:

• The Pillar and Defender of the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church and of the Orthodox Faith
• The Dean of the Great Catechetical School of Theology of Alexandria
• The Ecumenical (Universal) Judge (Arbitrator) of the Holy Apostolic and Catholic (Universal) Church
• The Thirteenth among the Holy Apostles

History

During the first centuries of the church, the bishops of Rome continued to use their baptismal names after their elections. The custom of choosing a new name began in AD 533: Mercurius deemed it inappropriate for a pope to be named after the pagan Roman god Mercury, and adopted the name John II in honor of his predecessor John I, who was venerated as a martyr. In the 10th century, clerics from beyond the Alps, especially Germany and France, acceded to the papacy and replaced their foreign-sounding names with more traditional ones.The last pope to use his baptismal name was Marcellus II in 1555, a choice that was even then quite exceptional. Names are freely chosen by popes, and not based on any system. Names of immediate or distant predecessors, mentors, saints, or even family members – as was the case with John XXIII – have been adopted.In 1978, Cardinal Albino Luciani became the first pope to take a double name, John Paul I, to honour his two immediate predecessors, John XXIII and Paul VI; he had been elevated to bishop by John XXIII, then to patriarch of Venice and the College of Cardinals by Paul VI. John Paul I was also the first pope in almost 1,100 years since Lando in 913 to adopt a papal name that had not previously been used. After John Paul I's sudden death a month later, Cardinal Karol Józef Wojtyła was elected and, wishing to continue his predecessor's work, became the second pope to take a double name as John Paul II. In 2013, a new name was introduced into the lineage: on being elected pope, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio selected the name Francis to emphasize the spirit of poverty and peace embodied by Saint Francis of Assisi.AUDIENCE TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA – ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER POPE FRANCIS – Vatican.va – Paul VI Audience Hall Saturday, 16 March 2013.

Symbolism

Often the new pontiff's choice of name upon being elected to the papacy is seen as a signal to the world of whom the new pope will emulate, what policies he will seek to enact, or even the length of his reign. Such was the case with Benedict XVI – it was speculated that he chose the name because he wished to emulate Benedict XV.Saint Peter was the first pope; no bishop of Rome has chosen the name Peter II, although there is no prohibition against doing so. Since the 1970s, some antipopes, with only a minuscule following, took the name Pope Peter II.Probably because of the controversial 15th-century antipope known as John XXIII, this name was avoided for over 500 years until the election in 1958 of Cardinal Angelo Roncalli. Immediately upon taking the name of John, it was not known if he would be John XXIII or XXIV; he decided that he would be known as John XXIII. The number used by an antipope is ignored if possible, but this is not possible if, by the time someone is reckoned as antipope, the name has since been used by one or more legitimate popes. For instance, Benedict X was only reckoned as an antipope centuries after his death, after Nicola Boccasini had already served as pope under the name Benedict XI.

Current practice

Immediately after a new pope is elected, and accepts the election, he is asked in Latin "By what name shall you be called?"{{efn|Unless impeded, the dean of the College of Cardinals asks the newly elected pope if he accepts his election and what name he will use. In 2005, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the dean, was himself elected pope, so these questions were asked by the subdean, Cardinal Angelo Sodano.}} The new pope chooses the name by which he will be known from that point on. The senior cardinal deacon or cardinal protodeacon then appears on the balcony of Saint Peter's to proclaim the new pope by his birth name, and announce his papal name:Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum:Habemus Papam!Eminentissimum ac reverendissimum dominum,dominum [baptismal name],Sanctæ Romanæ Ecclesiæ Cardinalem [surname],qui sibi nomen imposuit [papal name].I announce to you a great joy:We have a Pope!The Most Eminent and Most Reverend Father,Lord [baptismal name],Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church [surname],who takes to himself the name [papal name].{{Clear}}

Papal names

The most frequently used papal name is John, with 21 popes taking this name. There have also been 44 papal names that have only been used once. The number of all popes to the present is 264; Pope Benedict IX was elected pope three times, therefore the number of pontificates is actually 266.Data are taken from book: A. J. O'Brien, (The Popes: Twenty Centuries of History), Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2002.{|class="wikitable sortable"! scope=col |Rank! scope=col |Name! scope=col |{{Abbr|#|Number of times used}}! scope=col class="unsortable" |Popes|1

Pope John (disambiguation)>John

See Pope John numbering for further information.}}

Pope John I>I{{·}} Pope John II

{{·}} Pope John III>III{{·}} Pope John IV

{{·}} Pope John V>V{{·}} Pope John VI

{{·}} Pope John VII>VII{{·}} Pope John VIII

{{·}} Pope John IX>IX{{·}} Pope John X

{{·}} Pope John XI>XI{{·}} Pope John XII

{{·}} Pope John XIII>XIII{{·}} Pope John XIV

{{·}} Pope John XV>XV{{·}} Pope John XVII

{{·}} Pope John XVIII>XVIII{{·}} Pope John XIX

{{·}} Pope John XXI>XXI{{·}} Pope John XXII

{{·}} Pope John XXIII>XXIII

valign="top"|2

Pope Gregory (disambiguation)>Gregory|16	Pope Gregory I>I{{·}} Pope Gregory II	{{·}} Pope Gregory III>III{{·}} Pope Gregory IV	{{·}} Pope Gregory V>V{{·}} Pope Gregory VI	{{·}} Pope Gregory VII>VII{{·}} Pope Gregory VIII	{{·}} Pope Gregory IX>IX{{·}} Pope Gregory X	{{·}} Pope Gregory XI>XI{{·}} Pope Gregory XII	{{·}} Pope Gregory XIII>XIII{{·}} Pope Gregory XIV	{{·}} Pope Gregory XV>XV{{·}} XVI

|3

Pope Benedict (disambiguation)>Benedict	The papacy of Benedict X was later declared illegitimate.}}	Pope Benedict I>I{{·}} Pope Benedict II	{{·}} Pope Benedict III>III{{·}} Pope Benedict IV	{{·}} Pope Benedict V>V{{·}} Pope Benedict VI	{{·}} Pope Benedict VII>VII{{·}} Pope Benedict VIII	{{·}} Pope Benedict IX>IX{{·}} Pope Benedict XI	{{·}} Pope Benedict XII>XII{{·}} Pope Benedict XIII	{{·}} Pope Benedict XIV>XIV{{·}} Pope Benedict XV	{{·}} Pope Benedict XVI>XVI

|4

Pope Clement (disambiguation)>Clement|14	Pope Clement I>I{{·}} Pope Clement II	{{·}} Pope Clement III>III{{·}} Pope Clement IV	{{·}} Pope Clement V>V{{·}} Pope Clement VI	{{·}} Pope Clement VII>VII{{·}} Pope Clement VIII	{{·}} Pope Clement IX>IX{{·}} Pope Clement X	{{·}} Pope Clement XI>XI{{·}} Pope Clement XII	{{·}} Pope Clement XIII>XIII{{·}} XIV

5tie	Pope Innocent (disambiguation)>Innocent|13	Pope Innocent I>I{{·}} Pope Innocent II	{{·}} Pope Innocent III>III{{·}} Pope Innocent IV	{{·}} Pope Innocent V>V{{·}} Pope Innocent VI	{{·}} Pope Innocent VII>VII{{·}} Pope Innocent VIII	{{·}} Pope Innocent IX>IX{{·}} Pope Innocent X	{{·}} Pope Innocent XI>XI{{·}} Pope Innocent XII	{{·}} Pope Innocent XIII>XIII

Pope Leo (disambiguation)>Leo|13	Pope Leo I>I{{·}} Pope Leo II	{{·}} Pope Leo III>III{{·}} Pope Leo IV	{{·}} Pope Leo V>V{{·}} Pope Leo VI	{{·}} Pope Leo VII>VII{{·}} Pope Leo VIII	{{·}} Pope Leo IX>IX{{·}} Pope Leo X	{{·}} Pope Leo XI>XI{{·}} Pope Leo XII	{{·}} Pope Leo XIII>XIII

|7

Pope Pius (disambiguation)>Pius|12	Pope Pius I>I{{·}} Pope Pius II	{{·}} Pope Pius III>III{{·}} Pope Pius IV	{{·}} Pope Pius V>V{{·}} Pope Pius VI	{{·}} Pope Pius VII>VII{{·}} Pope Pius VIII	{{·}} Pope Pius IX>IX{{·}} Pope Pius X	{{·}} Pope Pius XI>XI{{·}} XII

|8

Pope Stephen (disambiguation)>Stephen	Additionally, some sources prior to the 1960s list Pope-elect Stephen, who died before his consecration, as Stephen II, thus causing a numbering discrepancy.}}	Pope Stephen I>I{{·}} Pope Stephen II	{{·}} Pope Stephen III>III{{·}} Pope Stephen IV	{{·}} Pope Stephen V>V{{·}} Pope Stephen VI	{{·}} Pope Stephen VII>VII{{·}} Pope Stephen VIII	{{·}} Pope Stephen IX>IX

9tie	Pope Boniface (disambiguation)>Boniface	The papacy of Boniface VII was later declared illegitimate.}}	Pope Boniface I>I{{·}} Pope Boniface II	{{·}} Pope Boniface III>III{{·}} Pope Boniface IV	{{·}} Pope Boniface V>V{{·}} Pope Boniface VI	{{·}} Pope Boniface VIII>VIII{{·}} IX

Pope Urban (disambiguation)>Urban|8	Pope Urban I>I{{·}} Pope Urban II	{{·}} Pope Urban III>III{{·}} Pope Urban IV	{{·}} Pope Urban V>V{{·}} Pope Urban VI	{{·}} Pope Urban VII>VII{{·}} VIII

|11

Pope Alexander (disambiguation)>Alexander	The papacy of Alexander V was later declared illegitimate.}}	Pope Alexander I>I{{·}} Pope Alexander II	{{·}} Pope Alexander III>III{{·}} Pope Alexander IV	{{·}} {{em>Antipope Alexander V	}}{{·}} Pope Alexander VI>VI{{·}} Pope Alexander VII	{{·}} Pope Alexander VIII>VIII

12tie	Pope Adrian (disambiguation)>Adrian|6	Pope Adrian I>I{{·}} Pope Adrian II	{{·}} Pope Adrian III>III{{·}} Pope Adrian IV	{{·}} Pope Adrian V>V{{·}} VI

Pope Paul (disambiguation)>Paul|6	Pope Paul I>I{{·}} Pope Paul II	{{·}} Pope Paul III>III{{·}} Pope Paul IV	{{·}} Pope Paul V>V{{·}} VI

14tie	Pope Celestine (disambiguation)>Celestine|5	Pope Celestine I>I{{·}} Pope Celestine II	{{·}} Pope Celestine III>III{{·}} Pope Celestine IV	{{·}} Pope Celestine V>V

Pope Nicholas (disambiguation)>Nicholas|5	Pope Nicholas I>I{{·}} Pope Nicholas II	{{·}} Pope Nicholas III>III{{·}} Pope Nicholas IV	{{·}} Pope Nicholas V>V

Pope Sixtus (disambiguation)>Sixtus|5	Pope Sixtus I>I{{·}} Pope Sixtus II	{{·}} Pope Sixtus III>III{{·}} Pope Sixtus IV	{{·}} Pope Sixtus V>V

17tie	Pope Anastasius (disambiguation)>Anastasius|4	Pope Anastasius I>I{{·}} Pope Anastasius II	{{·}} Pope Anastasius III>III{{·}} IV

Pope Eugene (disambiguation)>Eugene|4	Pope Eugene I>I{{·}} Pope Eugene II	{{·}} Pope Eugene III>III{{·}} IV

Pope Honorius (disambiguation)>Honorius|4	Pope Honorius I>I{{·}} Pope Honorius II	{{·}} Pope Honorius III>III{{·}} IV

Pope Sergius (disambiguation)>Sergius|4	Pope Sergius I>I{{·}} Pope Sergius II	{{·}} Pope Sergius III>III{{·}} IV

21tie	Pope Callixtus (disambiguation)>Callixtus|3	Pope Callixtus I>I{{·}} Pope Callixtus II	{{·}} Pope Callixtus III>III

Pope Felix (disambiguation)>Felix	The papacy of Felix II was later declared illegitimate.}}	Pope Felix I>I{{·}} Pope Felix III	{{·}} Pope Felix IV>IV

Pope Julius (disambiguation)>Julius|3	Pope Julius I>I{{·}} Pope Julius II	{{·}} Pope Julius III>III

Pope Lucius (disambiguation)>Lucius|3	Pope Lucius I>I{{·}} Pope Lucius II	{{·}} Pope Lucius III>III

Pope Martin (disambiguation)>Martin	No popes or antipopes ever used the names Pope Martin II	or Pope Martin III>Martin III. Pope Marinus I	and Pope Marinus II>Marinus II were mistakenly thought to be named "Martin(us)", causing the confusion.}}	Pope Martin I>I{{·}} Pope Martin IV	{{·}} Pope Martin V>V

Pope Sylvester (disambiguation)>Sylvester|3	Pope Sylvester I>I{{·}} Pope Sylvester II	{{·}} Pope Sylvester III>III

Pope Victor (disambiguation)>Victor|3	Pope Victor I>I{{·}} Pope Victor II	{{·}} Pope Victor III>III

28tie	Pope Adeodatus (disambiguation)>Adeodatus|2	Pope Adeodatus I>I{{·}} II

Pope Agapetus (disambiguation)>Agapetus|2	Pope Agapetus I>I{{·}} II

Pope Damasus (disambiguation)>Damasus|2	Pope Damasus I>I{{·}} II

Pope Gelasius (disambiguation)>Gelasius|2	Pope Gelasius I>I{{·}} II

Pope John Paul (disambiguation)>John Paul|2	Pope John Paul I>I{{·}} II

Pope Marcellus (disambiguation)>Marcellus|2	Pope Marcellus I>I{{·}} II

Pope Marinus (disambiguation)>Marinus|2	Pope Marinus I>I{{·}} II

Pope Paschal (disambiguation)>Paschal|2	Pope Paschal I>I{{·}} II

Pope Pelagius (disambiguation)>Pelagius|2	Pope Pelagius I>I{{·}} II

Pope Theodore (disambiguation)>Theodore|2	Pope Theodore I>I{{·}} II

38tie	Pope Agatho>Agatho|1|

Pope Anacletus>Anacletus|1|

Pope Anicetus>Anicetus|1|

Pope Anterus>Anterus|1|

Pope Caius>Caius|1|

Pope Conon>Conon|1|

Pope Constantine>Constantine|1|

Pope Cornelius>Cornelius|1|

Pope Dionysius>Dionysius|1|

Pope Donus>Donus|1|

Pope Eleutherius>Eleutherius|1|

Pope Eusebius>Eusebius|1|

Pope Eutychian>Eutychian|1|

Pope Evaristus>Evaristus|1|

Pope Fabian>Fabian|1|

Pope Formosus>Formosus|1|

style="background: #FFF39E;"

Pope Francis>Francis|1|(Incumbent)

Pope Hilarius>Hilarius|1|

Pope Hormisdas>Hormisdas|1|

Pope Hyginus>Hyginus|1|

Pope Lando>Lando|1|

Pope Liberius>Liberius|1|

Pope Linus>Linus|1|

Pope Marcellinus>Marcellinus|1|

Pope Mark>Mark|1|

Pope Miltiades>Miltiades|1|

Saint Peter>Peter|1|

Pope Pontian>Pontian|1|

Pope Romanus>Romanus|1|

Pope Sabinian>Sabinian|1|

Pope Severinus>Severinus|1|

Pope Silverius>Silverius|1|

Pope Simplicius>Simplicius|1|

Pope Siricius>Siricius|1|

Pope Sisinnius>Sisinnius|1|

Pope Soter>Soter|1|

Pope Symmachus>Symmachus|1|

Pope Telesphorus>Telesphorus|1|

Pope Valentine>Valentine|1|

Pope Vigilius>Vigilius|1|

Pope Vitalian>Vitalian|1|

Pope Zachary>Zachary|1|

Pope Zephyrinus>Zephyrinus|1|

Pope Zosimus>Zosimus|1|

Notes

{{notelist}}

Citations

{{reflist}}

References

• McClintock, John. 1891. Cyclopaedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature. Harper & Brothers. (Available online)

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