When did Pope John Paul II change his name?
533
And so on back through history. Pope John II, whose name at birth was Mercurius. When he became pope in 533 he changed his name — starting a tradition that continues.
Why did John Paul II change his name?
By some accounts, the naming tradition began with Pope John II. Named Mercurius at birth, he changed his name after assuming the papacy in 533, believing it would be inappropriate for the head of the Christian church to share the name of a pagan god.
Do popes have last names?
He chose to be called John II. After that some popes changed their names and some did not. The last pope to use his baptismal name was Marcellus II in 1555. Since then, it has been customary for all popes to change their names, although it is not required in any way.
What is the last pope’s name?
| Pope Benedict XVI | |
|---|---|
| Papacy ended | 28 February 2013 |
| Predecessor | John Paul II |
| Successor | Francis |
| Orders |
Do popes pick their own name?
There are no particular rules regarding what name a pope may choose, but generally their decision is viewed as a reflection of practices or tendencies they favor.
What’s the most common pope name?
John
Frequency
| # | Name | # |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | John | 21 |
| 2. | Gregory | 16 |
| 3. | Benedict | 15 |
| 4. | Clement | 14 |
How many popes were named Paul?
six popes
There have been six popes named Paul, and two popes named John Paul.
Who are the last 3 popes?
The Roman Catholic Popes of the past 135 years:
- Pope Francis — March 13, 2013-
- Benedict XVI — April 19, 2005-Feb. 28, 2013.
- John Paul II — Oct. 16, 1978-April 2, 2005.
- John Paul I — Aug. 26-Sept.
- Paul VI — June 21, 1963-Aug. 6, 1978.
- John XXIII — Oct. 28, 1958-June 3, 1963.
- Pius XII — March 2, 1939-Oct.
- Pius XI — Feb.