After being elected, the new Pope usually chooses a name that represents him and marks his papacy. This tradition dates back centuries and has remained relevant to this day. The most common names among elected Pontiffs have been Pius, Gregory, John, Benedict, Innocent, Leo, and Clement, although others like Joseph, James, Andrew, and Luke have also been used.
However, so far no Pope has chosen to call himself Peter, in honor of the apostle who is considered the first Pontiff. When Jorge Bergoglio, who would later become Pope Francis, was asked about the possibility of making an apostolic trip to Vietnam, he humorously responded, "If I don't go, surely John XXIV will."
The choice of the papal name is a personal and relevant topic in the Catholic Church. Each Pope considers his new name as a kind of "birth certificate" of his papacy. In this context, Francis's words about his papal name have resonated, recalling that Jesus himself changed the name of the apostle Simon to Peter, thus marking his position as the first Pontiff.
Before the new Pope dons the papal vestments for the first time, he is asked two crucial questions after a valid voting process: "Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?" These questions are fundamental in the papal election procedure and underscore the importance of the name that the Pope will choose for his reign.
