Who Can Really Say?

Name the Pope

What name should the next Pope choose? I don't have a dog in that fight myself, but here (via Eugene Volokh) you'll find an interesting series of lists of possible names. I'd forgetten that John Paul I was the first Pope to choose a new name in over 1,000 years. The link lists the last time various names were used over time -- did you know the last time a Pope was named Felix was . . . well, I don't want to spoil the fun. Read that far down, and a bit more where it becomes hilarious.

Not being Catholic and all, I'm probably about to stick my keyboard in my mouth, but why hasn't there been a Pope Peter since, well, Peter?

[Linked to the Beltway Traffic Jam].

UPDATE: After writing this, I became curious and just spent the last 30 50 minutes reading up on the history of Peter on Wikipedia. And if you're interested, a list of all Popes can be found here.

Posted by Peter at April 5, 2005 08:14 PM