It’s just tradition. Early popes used their own names. The tradition started in the 6th century because an elected pope was named Mercurius after the Roman god and he thought it was bad PR to keep it. The last pope to use his birth name was in the 16th century (Marcello II)
Yeah. To add to what your said, the tradition of taking on a new name has become a political statement in its own right. The name is a reflection on how the Pope intends to lead.
In what way? What is “Leo” implying abkut leadership?
https://www.astrology.com/zodiac-signs/leo
But more seriously, the previous Pope Leo was known for supporting unions and workers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rerum_novarum so it’s likely a nod to that.
Sorry, Pope “Badassmotherfucker” is reserved should Samuel L. Jackson ever run for the papacy.
So, why not Pope Badassmotherfucker II, leaving “the first” open for Sam?
The Pope is asked what name they will use. This is after they accept the position of pope, which means they are already pope at that moment.
So they can pick whatever name they want. They aren’t going to be fired.
Seriously though they don’t have to pick a new name at all. It’s often meant to be symbolic or recognizing a mentor or influence.
Pope Todd the first.
A pope does not have to. Whatever.
Usually that’s a saint’s name, but also popes are elected and sometimes it’s a shorthand that they’ll continue policies of previous pope of that name
They recycle names and add a roman numeral. Robert Francis Prevost is Pope Leo XIV.
The person who was pope literally last year is a counterexample to this.
