"By what name shall you be called?"

A little after 9 p.m. Rome time. No pope after first day of voting.

Pope Francis, surely Pope St, Francis, has died. Currently, 133 cardinals are in conclave to choose his successor.  Recently, an American film was called Conclave.  Robert Harris's novel of 2016 was its source, and it mixed theological division with politics, and a crime and suspense thriller.  The new pope was Innocent.

 

We were taught in school and catechism that the first pope was born Simon.  Jesus gave him a new name (Cephas in Aramaic) Petros, when he Jesus instituted the papal office. For centuries, popes did not choose a new name.  Mercurius became pope in 533, and since the name was that of a pagan god, he became John.  Marcellus in 1555 was the last pope that used his birth name, he died in three weeks and a day.

 

The most common regnal names in order: John, Gregory, Benedict, Clement, Innocent, Leo, and Pius.  Albino Luciani was pope for 33 days in 1978, he was the first to choose a double name. It was very common to choose the name of the pope who created you a cardinal. Luciani was named bishop by John XXIII, and cardinal by Paul VI. It was the first new papal name since Lando in 913, his birth name. When one is the first by that name, he isn't called Name I. Pope Francis is not now Francis I, he will be if there is a next Francis, but John Paul called himself John Paul I.

 

Next pope after he accepts his election will be asked, "Quo nomine vocaberis?(By what name shall you be called?)".  This will be a very important answer.  It would be a signal of what sort of papacy he aspires to.  If he says "Francis", it is to continue the spirit of his predecessor.  Likewise, if he chooses another name previously used.

 

It is possible, for him to also choose a new name. There are apostles, and great saints that have not have their names chosen. It was thought by many, that Francis was a name that would not ever be chosen. Peter is the most prominent name that is expected never to be chosen.

 

If Francis it shall be, ultra-conservatives and the U.S. Republican Party, and shameless American capitalists will not be happy. Currently in Rome very rich Americans are lobbying. Timothy Dolan Cardinal of NYC is with them. He shamelessly campaigned for the office last time. I doubt that an American would be respected by other cardinals, and certainly not that political ass.

 

A similar choice would be Ignatius. Francis was a Jesuit, the only Jesuit pope. Ignatius Loyola was the founder of that order. 

 

We wait for what to-morrow brings.

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postscriptum 2 p.m. 8 May: well a little after noon we found out.  Well, the choice of a papal name is considered to be an indication of what kind of pope he will be. Leo XIII was a pope who believed in the rights of labor, and social justice. Leo XIV will not be popular amongst capitalists (read American conservatives [Republicans and other fascists]).

 

see encyclical "Rerum Novarum" 1891, Rights and Duties of Capital and Labor