| Popes usually pick their names to honor a saint or pope they admired. But quite frequently it's to honor a pope who aided them in their ecclesiastical career: that's why in the list of popes you see so much clustering of names. In a span of 11 popes from 1775 to 1958, seven were named Pius. Immediately before that there were a bunch of Clements, Innocents, and Benedicts all in a row. Despite being the most common name, John XXIII was the first John in about 600 years. Popes didn't start picking regnal names routinely until the 11th century. A few have used their own baptismal name, the last time in 1555. John Paul I was the first "the first" in over 1,000 years, making him the only pope to select a name never used before (all other "the firsts" were their own baptismal names). |
Popes
Names of Popes
Foreign-Born Population: Portugal
