What does the name the popes choose mean?

MEXICO CITY (apro).- Cardinal Robert Prevost became the first American elected pope. As pontiff, he chose the name Leo XIV, which is not a coincidence, but rather a sign that he intends to continue the legacy of others who have borne that name.

Changing papal names is a centuries-old tradition in the Catholic Church, although this was not always the case. For more than 500 years, popes used their given names, but changing names became part of the process in the High Middle Ages, which spanned the 5th to the 10th centuries.

Pope John II, leader of the Church in 533 AD, began the tradition when he decided to abandon the name Mercurius, because of its similarity to the name of the Roman god Mercury.

However, the practice became established after the 10th century, about a thousand years ago. Since then, very few popes have retained their baptismal names, such as Marcellus II and Adrian VI, who served as heads of the church in the 16th century.

Over the years, popes have chosen the names of their predecessors out of respect or admiration and to indicate that they intend to follow in their footsteps. For example, Pope Francis chose his papal name to honor Saint Francis of Assisi, a saint known for his love of nature and his concern for the poor.

It's worth noting that Francis's election was unusual because it had been nearly 1,100 years since the last pope had a single name, according to Liam Temple, a professor at the Center for Catholic Studies at Durham University, interviewed by CNN Mundo.

What can be interpreted from the choice of the new pope's name?

Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Prevost, of Spanish descent, entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) in 1977 and made his solemn vows in 1981.

Before joining the Vatican, he carried out numerous missions in Peru, for which he obtained Peruvian nationality, and is recognized for his work with marginalized communities.

The pope has not yet commented on his choice of name, but it is one of the most commonly used by pontiffs. The first was Pope Leo I, pontiff from 440 to 461 AD, according to BBC Mundo.

In the recent past, Pope Leo XIII was the last to choose that name. His baptismal name was Vincenzo Gioacchino Pecci, and he was elected in 1878. He led the Catholic Church until his death in 1903.

Leo XIII published an encyclical called "Rerum Novarum," a Latin expression meaning "Of New Things," in which he addressed topics such as workers' rights and social justice, making him the first pope to highlight the importance of workers' social struggles.

Therefore, the choice of name could be an indication that the current pope wishes to continue a reformist legacy, according to Veronique Lecaros, head of the Theology Department at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, interviewed by BBC Mundo.

What names have been most chosen by popes?

The name chosen most often by popes has been John, with 21. Gregory is in second place, with 16 popes; and Benedict is in third, with 15.

Next in line, including the new pope, are Leo and Clement, who has been elected 14 times. The other names in the top 10 most popular are Innocent; Pius; Stephen; Boniface; and Urban.

Are there any forbidden names?

Although not strictly prohibited, the name Peter is not chosen, as that is what Saint Peter the Apostle, the first pope, was called. CNN pointed out that the reason this name is not chosen is because there is a prophecy that Peter II will be the last pope to serve.