Cardinal Robert Prevost has been announced as the new leader of the Catholic Church and has chosen the name Pope Leo XIV—a name with deep roots in papal history, having been used 13 times before.
But how exactly do popes choose their names?
Interestingly, there are no official rules or written guidelines dictating how a new pope must select a name. Instead, it is a deeply personal decision, often reflecting the new pontiff’s spiritual priorities, admiration for past popes or saints, and the message they wish to send to the world.
In most cases, popes choose the name of a predecessor or a saint whose legacy they respect or hope to emulate.
For example, Pope Benedict XVI explained in his first general audience as pope that he chose his name in honor of Pope Benedict XV, a peacemaker during World War I, and St. Benedict of Norcia, the founder of the Benedictine order and a patron saint of Europe.
Pope John Paul II selected his name as a tribute to his immediate predecessor, Pope John Paul I, who served for just 33 days before his sudden death. In turn, Pope John Paul I chose his double-barreled name to honor Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI, under whose leadership the Second Vatican Council was convened and implemented.
The most common papal names are John, used 23 times; Benedict, 16 times; Gregory, 16 times; Clement, 14 times; Leo, now 14 times; Innocent, 13 times; and Pius, 12 times.
On the other hand, some names have been used only once—such as Peter (likely out of reverence for the first pope), Fabian, Linus, Mark, and Valentine.
By choosing the name Leo XIV, Cardinal Prevost places himself in the legacy of a line of popes dating back to Pope Leo I, also known as St. Leo the Great, a Doctor of the Church renowned for his theological clarity and leadership during turbulent times.
The name signals continuity, tradition, and perhaps a nod to strength and reform—qualities often associated with previous Popes Leo. As with many papal decisions, the choice is rich in symbolism and history, meant to guide the Church’s direction in the years to come.
