Wednesday, February 20, 2013

The Next Pope's Name Will Be ... FRANCIS I - updated in hindsight

UPDATED - obviously I did not see Francis I the coming - Francis the name of the founder of the Jesuit order and St Franmcis the rebuilder of a broken church 3/13/13
           
 In a few weeks there will be a new Bishop of Rome. In English speaking countries he will be referred to as the Pope. Most speakers of English will have no idea that the word pope is merely is a mispronunciation of the Italian word for father, the Father, Il Papa. In many families where English is spoken small children ask for papa's guidance all the time. 

               More mysterious is the business of Papal names. Why is it that Albino Luciani goes into the Conclave and, upon election, comes out John Paul I?

               The Papal names have meanings, are symbolic and transmit expressions of the faith and the thinking of those who bear the weight of history. The names can tell us indirectly and to some small extent the direction towards which the new Pontiff may be looking.

               Here is my subjective, personal review of some possibilities for the next Bishop of Rome. I am interested in your thoughts, comments and critiques of my list. The names are in no particular order. For sure let me know if I got the numbering wrong.

Let me know your favorite name and why

1.     Peter II                             Not likely; too much baggage (The "Prophecies" of Saint Malachy) and the air of presumption (Tu es Petrus) unimaginable in this gathering of Cardinal-bishops and Cardinal-priests. For some reason, the odds-makers think I am totally uniformed as they have set the current odds for the name Peter for the next Pope at 1/1, not going to happen - bet on it, even odds.

2.     Leo XIV                             At 14 to 1, Leo is a good bet for a Latin American Pope, or non European Cardinal. For that matter Leo XIV is a good choice for any strong determined Roman Bishop, just look at Leo I, the Great. The last Leo, number XIII, is "known for intellectualism,the development of social teachings with his encyclical Rerum Novarum and his attempts to define the position of the Churchwith regard to modern thinking." Such a choice would send strong message about future roles of the Church in the 21st century specifically aimed at the needs of the 99%.

3.     John Paul III                   A reasonable choice and most likely for a new Pope who will not try to rock the Church, who will toe the line and do the hard work necessary to carry on Vatican II.

4.     Paul VII                            Reasonable choice for the Arch-bishop of Milan if elected. Paul VI was the hard working determined manager of Vatican II and one time Cardinal from Milan.

5.     Victor IV                          Great name for a non European choice especially for an African Pope. Victor I, among his many accomplishments, was instrumental in confirming the "practice of alwayscelebrating Easter on Sunday."

6.     Benedict XVII                Possible, but I think not likely. The renunciation/resignation/abdication controversy which swirls around the present Pontiff may preclude many from selecting the name Benedict XVII. That said there is much good will and respect for the current holder of the Pope and there may be an inclination to show a continuation of his policies. I suspect that a new name will allow some of the challenges attached to his reign to be subordinated to the novelty of a new pastor.

7.     Sylvester IV                    Not likely though good name for European (French cardinal perhaps reflecting to the re-invigoration of the church in the late 10th century under Sylvester II, one time teacher of an emperor and Archbishop of Rhiems)

8.     Stephen XI/XII             Not likely given not only the minor problem of the numbering of Popes named Stephen, but the possible and inevitable rise of the specter of the Cadaver Synodhttp://www.law.uga.edu/dwilkes_more/his31_cadaver.html of Pope Stephen VI/VII.

9.     Pius XIII                           The election of very conservative or a very progressive Cardinal might find this wonderful name used. The former to send a signal; the latter to cover an only-Nixon-can-go-to-China possibility. The name Pius could provide some historic cover for a Pope determined to preserve the Church as is, or to bring change.

10.  Gregory XVII                  Comes with historic baggage including the resignation controversy as well as the attempt to ban trains in the 18th century by another Pope Gregory. Pope Gregory XVI ensured that the Church would not soon elect a monk as Patriarch of the West.

11.  John XXIV                        Good choice for a young dynamic Cardinal who grew up in a Vatican II church and is ready to move forward...there is a wee bit of chaos surrounding the numbering of the Popes John as there was never a John XX and the first John XXIII, Baldassarre Cossa, of who it is said was an "undeniably secular andambitious, his moral life was not above reproach, and his unscrupulous methodsin no wise accorded with the requirements of his high office ... the heinouscrimes of which his opponents in the council accused him were certainly gravelyexaggerated."

12.  Clement XV                     Nice choice for a Pope who promises to hold the line whatever that may be. The last Clement went after the Jesuits with such vigor that a Lutheran princess turned Orthodox Autocrat had to shelter them from his wrath of a Franciscan.

13.  Innocent XIV                 Not likely - too much opportunity for lampooning in an English speaking world.

14.  Eugene V                         An excellent choice to signal a renewal of ecumenical collaborations with Orthodoxy and the rest of Christendom, this name will most likely remain unused.

15.  Boniface X                       Not likely, but interesting choice based on the Latin meaning of the name - doer of good, which by the way is what Eugene sort of means in Greek. Boniface VIII's action concerning his predecessor who resigned also reduce the probability that we shall have a Boniface the Tenth.

16.  Mark II                             An interesting possibility that might be interpreted as a return to Apostolic traditions and pastoral mission.

17.  Alexander IX                  Not likely for historical baggage, unless some connection to family, saint or mentor.

18.  Sixtus (Xystus) VI       A great choice if the intent is to restructure the bureaucracy of  and administration of the Church, but difficult choice in the age of twitter - Sixtus the Sixth does not roll of the tongue easily for the denizens of the internet and factoid news.

19.  Urban IX                          Would perhaps send interestingly conflicting messages about religion and science given the last Pope Urban was the Friend and Silencer of Galileo...the name itself means of the city, think urbane, and could send a unifying message to the congregations of an urbanizing world.

20.  Julius IV                           Not likely even though Julius II is a personal favorite of mine.

21.  Felix V                              Unlikely choice...means happy in Latin, and might make sense if Latin were still taught in the land of Twitter and Nod, but alas only thoughts of a cat are likely to arise.

22. Celestine VI                     As unlikely as Peter II or for that matter Boniface IX see above. Celestine V's attempt at abdication or resignation turned out poorly for him; others of that named died soon after election of natural causes it is presumed.

23.  Nicholas VI                       Not likely, in fact highly improbable in an English speaking world where every December confusion on twitter is likely to ensue

24. Linus II                             Steve comments (and makes a good point) that "A pope who calls himself Linus II is likely to shake things up, and start over from the beginning."

25. Callixtus IV                        Also spelled in Callistus, the dual spelling is enough to assign this name a very low probablity. The fact that nothing explicitedly relevant to our problems today (such as teaching Emperors their place in the universe, or qualifications of schismatics needed to return) lowers the potential for this name to nigh unto zero.

There are of course many others like Hadrian (Adrian), Anacletus, Zephyrinus and Hilarius II, 
perhaps even Telesphorus the Second



  

3 comments:

Steve said...

How about Linus II, after the first successor to Peter. Because here's what the original Linus is most remembered for:

“Saint Linus [as a bishop in Gaul] one day attempted to turn some of those away from the celebration of a festival in honor of their gods, telling them that these idols were but statues without breath or sentiment, and represented only human beings whose vices were public knowledge. He exhorted them to turn to the unique God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, to whom alone man owes the homage of sacrifice. A prodigy followed his words; a column of their temple crumbled and caused the fall of an idol, which broke into a thousand pieces.”

A pope who calls himself Linus II is likely to shake things up, and start over from the beginning.

Steve said...

How about Linus II, after the first successor to Peter. Because here's what the original Linus is most remembered for:

“Saint Linus [as a bishop in Gaul] one day attempted to turn some of those away from the celebration of a festival in honor of their gods, telling them that these idols were but statues without breath or sentiment, and represented only human beings whose vices were public knowledge. He exhorted them to turn to the unique God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, to whom alone man owes the homage of sacrifice. A prodigy followed his words; a column of their temple crumbled and caused the fall of an idol, which broke into a thousand pieces.”

A pope who calls himself Linus II is likely to shake things up, and start over from the beginning.

John Kennard said...

Il Papa Anonimo Primo! ("Aspettano da noi.")