Why did pope Benedict change his name?

It was widely assumed Benedict XVI chose his name to honor the legacy of Benedict XV and/or St. Benedict. The first pope to change his name did so in the Sixth Century because he was named after the Roman god Mercury, and he thought it inappropriate to carry that name as pope. He chose to be called John II.

What is pope Benedict called now?

Benedict’s election as pope occurred in the 2005 papal conclave that followed the death of Pope John Paul II. Benedict chose to be known by the title “pope emeritus” upon his resignation. Joseph Ratzinger Sr.

What name did Cardinal Ratzinger choose?

Pope Benedict XVI
In 2005, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger chose to be known as Pope Benedict XVI. The name harkened to St. Benedict, the patron saint of Europe. It also paid homage to Pope Benedict XV.

Why did the pope chose Francis as his name?

His name was chosen after St. Francis of Assisi, the Vatican says. After his election as pope Wednesday, Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose a name that, for many Catholics, sent an immediate signal of his goal to unite the Roman Catholic Church: Pope Francis.

Who was the first pope to change name?

John II
The first pope known to have changed his name was John II in 533. He was called Mercury by his family but thought the Christian pontiff should not have the name of a pagan Roman god.

What is Pope Benedict XVI’s new name?

“Benedict’s New Name: Pope Emeritus, His Holiness Benedict XVI, Roman Pontiff Emeritus”. Retrieved 23 June 2018. ^ Walsh, Mary Ann (2005). From Pope John Paul II to Benedict XVI: an inside look at the end of an era, the beginning of a new one, and the future of the church.

How did Pope Benedict XVI become Pope?

Born in Germany in 1927, Pope Benedict XVI grew up under war reparations from World War I, as the Nazi regime was gaining power. He was briefly a member of the Hitler Youth in his early teens, after membership became mandatory in 1941. He turned to theological studies after the war, helping found…

Why did Benedict XVI choose the name Benedict XVI?

His choice of the name Benedict XVI recalled St. Benedict of Nursia, the patron saint of Europe and the founder of Western monasticism, as well as earlier popes of the same name, including Benedict XV (1914–22), who sought to mediate between the belligerents during World War I.

When was the last time the pope was named Benedict?

The last pope named Benedict was Benedict XV, an Italian who reigned from 1914 to 1922, during World War I (1914–1918). On 2 January 2005, Time magazine quoted unnamed Vatican sources as saying that Ratzinger was a front runner to succeed John Paul II should he die or become too ill to continue as pope.