new popes past

[Centaur]

Regarding names, I was kind of hoping that he would pick something original(how often does one get to do this, after all). Something like, say Elvis I.
Wonder why he didn't do that? I'll have to ask him when I get an audience.

How about John Paul George Ringo?

 

[grnamin]

I guess they feel that the leader of the Catholic Church should have some experience and those who are in their 70's definitely have that going for them. What I would like to know is how the newly elected Popes choose their names?

As the newly elected pope accepts his new role, it is tradition for him to select a new name. This papal tradition dates to 533 and the election of Pope John II, whose birth name was Mercurius, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia. Mercurius is derived from Mercury, a pagan Roman god. Believing that a successor of St. Peter should not carry a name belonging to a pagan religion, Mercurius chose to change his name upon his election to honor a previous pope.
While some that followed John II chose to retain their original name, it soon became commonplace for new popes to choose a new moniker. The name change also symbolizes the new life that the new pope is entering as the head of the Catholic Church. Typically, the new pope selects the name of his favorite Saint or a former pope whom he admires.

John Paul II chose his name to honor his predecessor, John Paul I, who died just 33 days after being elected pope. John Paul I chose his name to honor predecessors Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI.
-from How the Papacy Works (gotta love those Howstuffworks people )

 

[Geraldo]

the analists say the cardinals deliberately picked older extremist so that he would be replaced by somebody more moderate relatively soon and that moderate would appeal to everybody with his more "mainstream" positions.

I would say that the analysts are morons. The vast majority of voting cardinals were elevated by John Paul II, so it would follow that their views are similar to his. If they had wanted a more moderate or younger Pope, they would have elected one, but obviously they were not interested in "mainstream" ideas as much as they were in continuing Catholic tradition and teachings.

 

[Gollnick]

One of the cardinals made a very telling statement when asked before the conclave about the choice of a new pope, "God has already selected the new pope. We just have to find him." That is the attitude with which the cardinals approach the issue. This is, of course, an attitude entirely foreign to those outside of the church. So, it's not surprising to see the press, "commentators," and others trying to apply the paradigms they know to explain something they don't understand and which is entirely foreign to them.

 

[faramir]

If they had wanted a more moderate or younger Pope, they would have elected one, but obviously they were not interested in "mainstream" ideas as much as they were in continuing Catholic tradition and teachings.

... or in getting one that wasn't likely to die soon to follow with that fine tradition and teachings (sonner than a younger pope would, that is). That doesn't contradict what those analysts have said though; they [the cardinals] opted for more conservative choice for whatever reasoning was, but chose so that this would be "transitional" choice likely to "expire" soon, not a long-term choice. They're keeping their options open. It's a fact that B16 is relatively old [compared to JP2 and other likely candidates for example], why would pointng that out make anybody an idiot, as you put it ?

 

[FullerH]

is not his WWII record or lack thereof, Hell, he was only a kid, for Heaven's sake. My problem with him is his occupation for the past 24 years. He has been the head of the Congregation for the Doctorine of the Faith, which my Roman Catholic friends tell me is the modern incarnation of the Office of the Inquisition. Yes, folks, he was the Grand Inquisitor! In that role, he was John Paul II's hatchet man when it came to eliminating any opposition within the Church, any opposition such as Liberation Theologians in the Third World, Feminist Theologians in the First World, and liberal theologians anywhere. Her may not have used the rack, the thumbscrews, and the stake as his predecessors did, but he was just as effective at undoing the reforms of Vatican II.