Other times a new pope would choose a name to honor a.

Do popes choose their names. Many Popes in recent history have chosen their names to invoke a great Pope or saint from history typically one they admire and wish to emulate with their papacy. It is probably connected to their confirmation name. 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.

This pontiff was a Roman by birth who was named Mercurius after the Roman god Mercury. In the past century several popes chose their name to honor one of their. They may choose a name of a previous pope or choose a new name such as Pope John Paul I did.

Following the papacy of John XV newly elected pontiffs began to use papal names somewhat regularly. Or with John Paul II if his inspiration. After him all men elected Pope have chosen another name to go by during their pontificate.

Dominic and if the possiblity arose of me becoming Pope I would probably choose that name. It would signal the continuity of the past pontificate. The earliest popes did not choose a different name once they took the papal throne.

His son Akihito has chosen the name Heisei Peace Growing. Even though its not a requirement popes began taking new names consistently since the successors of Marcellus in the 16th Century. But John II whose birth name was Mercurius and served as Pope from 533-535 was the first to change his name.

In early times the first Popes would keep their baptismal names. He chose to be called John II. The artifact is a large photo blessing from 1921 signed as pope.