How do Popes choose their names?

Answer 1

Baby name books from like the 1500s

Answer 2

they go through a long task by finding a black hat.
next they write down 100 no more than 125 names.
Then they take purple safety scissors out cut all the names into rectangles.
they names are then placed into the hat after being checked for spelling.
the pope then shakes the hat 10 times (if he shakes it to much he would have to start the process over).
then the pope chooses 5 names. (and he don't look at them)
those names are then placed into a white hat.
then names are shaken again 5 times
then the pope chooses his name and burns all the other names.

Answer 3

The tradition is to name oneself after a previous Pope whose work one is seeking to emulate. The current Pope Benedict chose that name because he sees himself as a caretaker pope with a brief reign (he is fairly old, especially compared against John Paul II when he was elected), like the last Benedict around World War I.

Answer 4

Early popes kept their 'given" names and popes can still do that if they want. Sometimes popes take the names of earlier popes,especially if they were saints.

Answer 5

Take a look at "How do Popes Get their names?" - an article from George Mason University's History News Network:
http://hnn.us/roundup/entries/11286.html

Answer 6

No Pope is obligated to change his name. This is a pious tradition (not Sacred Tradition).

The practice arose when a pagan convert to Christianity became Pope and changed his name from Mercury (after the pagan Roman god) to John II in 533 A.D.

Until then, the Popes kept their original names, from Peter (#1) to Boniface II (#55).

Between John II (#56) and Sergius IV (#142) in 1009 A.D only a few Popes changed their names.

But since Sergius IV, it has been common practice for all Popes to change their name when elected pontiff except Adrian VI and Marcellus II.

Pope Benedict XVI chose the name Benedict for several reasons. At his papal audience on April 27, 2005, he explained his motivations for adopting the name.

“I want to call myself Benedict XVI to bind myself to the venerated Pope Benedict XV, who guided the church in a troubled period because of the First World War. He was a courageous and authentic prophet of peace and worked with valiant courage first to prevent the drama of war and then to limit its nefarious consequences. In his footsteps, I want to place my ministry at the service of reconciliation and harmony among individuals and peoples, deeply convinced that the great good of peace is, first of all, a gift of God, a fragile and precious gift to invoke, safeguard and build day after day with the help of everyone.”

Benedict XVI also said he chose the name to evoke the spirit of Saint Benedict, the founder of Western monasticism whose influence helped spread Christianity over Europe.

“St. Benedict is very venerated in Germany, particularly in Bavaria, my homeland. He is a basic point of reference for the unity of Europe and a strong reminder of the undeniable Christian roots of its culture and civilization.”

http://www.usccb.org/comm/popebenedictxvi/namebenedict.shtml

With love in Christ.

Answer 7

I poresume they choose the name of some one they respected in the bible if not I hope they pray on it.

Answer 8

It is their personal choice, based on who has inspired them in the past, or whose life they want to inspire them. No doubt their choice is guided by the Holy Spirit.

Answer 9

From what I understand they just pick them. Usually from historical figures associated with the religion and church.