What's the significance of the new Pope choosing the name "Benedict"?

[Goldmund]

[Midlodemocrat]

1. Hopefully,

it means he would like to continue the works of Benedict XV, who canonized Joan of Arc and was very outspoken during WWI.

Fingers crossed.

[fishwax]

5. Wasn't Benedict XV also key in the first codification of canon law?

I think the 1st publication of codified canon law came about under Benedict XV. It was reissued in 1983, and I think Ratzinger was involved with that (did he head it), so I think that might be part of what the name refers to.

[BrainRants]

2. Eggs?

n/t

[ButterflyBlood]

3. apparentely some saint predicted the names of all following popes

and Benedict was the one after John Paul. Then comes Peter, which was last, implying that after him would the end of the church and/or the world.

Of course it's entirely likely he chose the name simply for that reason, to act like the prophecy means something, so it isn't saying much. Kind of like the guy who after 9/11 claimed that he predicted the attacks nad has knowledge of all future terrorism.

[TlalocW]

4. Why do they choose new names anyway?

I'm guessing that they choose names of other Popes named the same - hence John Paul II, but was John Paul I really named John Paul, or did he pick that name as well from somewhere?

TlalocW

[Zynx]

6. It goes back to Rome

John II was born Mercury. That obviously wouldn't do, so he changed.

[slackmaster]

14. Pope Freddie Mercury would have been OK

:nuke:

[KitSileya]

11. Often they pick names to signal who they'll follow.

When Angelo Cardinal Roncalli chose John XXIII in 1958, it was scandalous, there hadn't been a John in centuries, and there'd already been a John 24 as anti-pope. John Paul I chose his names as a homage to John XXII and his succesor, Paul VI. JP II chose his name as a homage to the 33-day pope JP I. Of course, there are other factors influencing the choice as well.

That was why the name of the new pope was eagerly speculated upon - a John XXIV would signal a return to the spirit of Vatican 2 of the 60s, JP III that he would follow closely the politics of the previous pope, etc. That the new pope has chosen a completely different name than the last couple of popes may signal that he is determined to forge his own way - even tho' we expect him to be a JP II, the more severe edition. My first thought was that he seems determined to step out of the shadow of JP II.

[yvr girl]

7. They said he has close connections to the

Bennedictine order. I've heard of them, but I don't know what they are known for.

[Kali]

12. weren't they the ones that invented champagne?

[Sparkle]

8. Better Pope Benedict than Pope Ratzinger.

:-)

[Scurrilous]

9. Bizarro take on this...

...Cardinal Ratzinger becomes Pope Benedict.

There's a Michael Jackson tune in this somewhere.

[lala_rawraw]

10. The St. Malachy prophecy

[slackmaster]

13. It's a tribute to that good beer, wine, and hooch the Benedectines made

:toast: