JCC Pope watch MMXIII (MMXXV Edition)

I think the next Pope will want to rebuild consensus in the Church, but not breaking from Francis or the overall direction he was going in. So, for those reasons, I don't think we'll see from this conclave:
-Francis the 2nd
-Benedict the 17th (may be seen as a slight to Francis, with how many created an unfair/untrue rivalry of thought between the Pope and the Pope Emeritus)
-Clement the 15th (the last Clement suppressed the Jesuits, which could be seen as a slight to Francis)
-Innocent the 14th (the last Innocent also suppressed the Jesuits, which could be seen as a slight to Francis)
-a new name, they'll probably want to connect back with another Pope name lineage in some way, to stress they're remembering the history while moving forward

I also don't think we'll see Pius the 13th, since not only was that name already very common, there were many controversial Pius's include the role of the last Pius in World War II and the Holocaust, and of Pius the 9th's overall rejection of all modern life and systems and clinging to temporal power.

Alexander the 9th is probably out - just a very secular name, and the last Alexander was just known for corruption.

Urban the 9th can probably be ruled out, not only for connotations he'd focus more on cities (however unfair), but moreso for seeming radically anti-modern/science, since the last Urban was the one who put Galileo on trial.

Sixtus the 6th would be both weird, and kind of jarring with people probably joking of 666 connotations.

Marcellus, Julius, Calixtus, and Adrian are probably out - they were just first names, not papal names, despite having a number... and Julius the 3rd was a known p-word who slept with a future serial killer/rapist.

Gregory the 17th would be pretty neutral, the last couple weren't too controversial.

Leo the 14th could make a lot of sense for someone wanting to continue Francis's work, with how Leo the 13th was as Pope, while showing and making a link with that line of continuity and how the work is building off of that of previous Popes.

I wouldn't rule-out John Paul the 3rd (I don't think John or Paul individually would make sense without seeming like a slight in some way to JPII as people thinking he combined well the previous Pope John and Pope Paul before him, taking the best of both, but maybe it wouldn't be seen as a slight. I'd still say John Paul the 3rd before either John the 24th or Paul the 7th).


Maybe this is overthinking, but those are my thoughts.

Summing it, it will obviously depend on the person and the signal they want to send, but I'd think most likely to have another Leo, Gregory, or John Paul.
(Doubtful, but I think a "Benedict Francis / Francis Benedict" would be interesting...)

 

I just learned the youngest cardinal is 45. Now I wonder what was the youngest cardinal appointed in the 21st century

edit: it was the same guy. A Ukrainian catholic bishop who is the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Oceania

 

Someone said a Pope Thomas would be interesting, if the new Pope is from somewhere in the Indian subcontinent.

Ironically, "doubting Thomas" going to and being remembered in India is probably the greatest evidence for a historical Jesus, not what a minority of historians have proposed of Jesus never even existing and being a fiction created by Jewish reformers who wanted to reform either Judaism or take over Palestine or the Roman Empire (and India never saw a period of fully Christianization, even when colonized, that would mean anything about Thomas was retroactive propaganda). Why else would Thomas go to one of the most distant places possible back then, a place where there was no Jewish influence or Roman influence, living in poverty while helping the poor and spreading a gospel of faith and charity? No reason to be remembered unless it was real, and no reason for him to go unless he really believed in the Gospel message and Jesus's teachings.

Anyhow, that's a side point, but if there's a Pope from South Asia, then that would be one way we get another new Papal name.

 

It does surprise me some that there are names of Apostles that haven't been used by popes.

I am sure there are cultural/historical/traditional justifications for such...but after so much time, you'd think they would've gotten around to more of them.

If they can appoint a Saint's Day in their name, you'd think it would be worthy of a pope now and then.

 

Actually a majority of the Apostle names have never been Popes. You'd also expect some from the disciples attributed to have written the Gospels, or mentioned in the New Testament, but not many.

But that may also be partially due to taking a "Papal name" not becoming common until the start of the list I posted earlier, in the 1400s/1500s.

There's never been a Pope:
-Joseph (both the name of Mary's husband, and of another disciple who actually was the one who buried Jesus and gave him his tomb and possibly Mary's uncle)
-James (two apostles, one being the "brother of Jesus," also wrote some epistles of the New Testament)
-Luke (disciple who allegedly wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles)
-Matthew (also called Levi, another disciple who allegedly wrote the Gospel of Matthew)
-Jude/Thaddeus (called both names, and another apostle, he wrote an epistle of the New Testament)
-Andrew (the first apostle, and brother of Peter)
-Philip (another apostle)
-Bartholomew/Nathanael (another apostle)
-Simon (there was a second Simon who was an apostle, not just Simon Peter)
-Matthias (the apostle who replaces Judas Iscariot the Betrayer)
-Timothy (prominent disciple in the New Testament, some epistles were written as instructions to him in his ministry)
-Titus (another disciple, who had an epistle for him)
-Barnabas (another prominent disciple of the New Testament)
-Nicodemus (another prominent disciple of the New Testament)

There's also only been one Pope Mark.

John is the only Apostle name that's been used for centuries as a papal name. Paul has been used a few times too, but he technically wasn't an apostle since he converted post-Easter.

 

Let's go! Alexander approaches!

Hopefully anyway.

 

I couldn't find a betting site for over under length boo (I'd be ambitious and take the over on 12 days!). Still pulling for my boy Peter from South Africa but yes Pizzaballa is a great name

 

Pizzaballa is a centrist which is funny for someone who has been stationed in the holy land.then again maybe it isn’t

 

Time for the Pope Watch to begin in earnest.

 

No 1st round surprise. Black smoke.

 

Thats a nope on a Pope for today

 

I remember learning how they release a big billow of smoke once a new pope is selected. That was the year they picked a new pope on 4/20.

Serious question though, how can an organization as powerful as the Catholic Church preach democratic type values but then not allow their followers any say in who leads the organization?

 

Smoke up just as the PSG/Arsenal match kicks off.


Priorities sorted

 

But the Conclave can't even watch the game! They have to contemplate

 

I'm contemplating how we missed so many good opportunities in the first ten minutes...

 

They’ll pick the new pope tomorrow. Fingers crossed for a centrist or liberal

 

Black smoke again on 2nd go. Maybe they'll have him picked while I'm still sleeping.

 

I hope Pierbattista Pizzaballa wins.
Habemus Pizza!
I can already see Pizza Pope on every pizzeria's menu.

I wonder if he wins
- will the smoke smell like pizza
- will he chose a name with P like Pius.
Pope Pius Pierbattista Pizzaballa.

Epic.

 

Live feed

 

Considerate of them to have waited until I was on a break here at work.

 

Habemus Papam!

 

Same thing for me!

 

Let them declare pizza!