Why does the Pope take on an assumed name?

Originally posted by no1marauder
Among the 265 popes are 43 whose names have been used only once. The list includes Linus, Eusebius, Agatho, Sisinnius, Formosus, Romanus and the improbable Hilarius


I think Hilarius II would be a really cool name name for a pope.

Originally posted by ivanhoe
Pope Benedict has chosen his name because it refers to a "program" he wants to realise during his pontificate. The name tells us something about the Pope's intentions, his intended policies.

Saint Benedict is one of the patrons of Europe. He, and others, brought Christianity, the Christian values and civilisation to Europe. The present Pope has the in ...[text shortened]... enedict XVI will do the same (New Age, moral relativism and the autonomy of the human self).

Originally posted by Nemesio
I was genuinely hoping for a Pope Thomas.

St Thomas is one of my idols in the Bible.

Nemesio

Originally posted by no1marauder
I thought his Gospel wasn't even allowed in the Bible. Since it was supposed to be sayings of Jesus, why was the Gospel of St. Thomas omitted (I know you've addressed this before, but I've never actually saw the reasons)?

There are a couple of reasons. The first is that it was a Gospel used in the Gnostic
tradition and has redactions and interpretations which are decidely inconsistent with
the Synoptic accounts (though this didn't stop St John's Gospel from being added).
The second is that, in its present form, it is a late compilation. While there are seeds
within the account which are as old as anything in the Synoptics, their form and
adaptation is the product of hundreds of years of revision. As such, if one is interested
in as reliable an authority as possible for the transmissions of the words or deeds of
Jesus, the Gospel of St Thomas is not going to be high on the list of sources.

In any event, I didn't mean the Gospel of St Thomas is one of my idols; I meant that
the character St Thomas (as described by St John) is one with whom I greatly identify.

EDIT: Do you dispute that Hilarius II would be a cool name for a pope?

It would be sweeeeeeeeeeet, indeed.

Nemesio

Originally posted by DoctorScribbles
Well, if I had a bent for circular thought and accepted that I was not autonomous because somebody told me I wasn't, I suppose it might be a real bummer.

But as is, I really couldn't care less. If anything, it should make for some amusing copy-and-paste material from you in the forums. I can see the headlines now:
"German leader convinces masses to do his bidding."

Originally posted by ivanhoe

Which means what ?

Originally posted by Nemesio
I was genuinely hoping for a Pope Thomas.

St Thomas is one of my idols in the Bible.

Nemesio

Originally posted by DoctorScribbles
In summary, no I'm not really bummed out. Every cloud has a silver lining.

Originally posted by ivanhoe

I wonder what his program would be ?

Originally posted by ivanhoe

I wonder what his program would be ?

Originally posted by Nemesio
I was genuinely hoping for a Pope Thomas.

St Thomas is one of my idols in the Bible.

Nemesio

Originally posted by lucifershammer
Personally, I would love to see a Pope Thomas as well; named not just after the Apostle St. Thomas, but also St. Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor.

Originally posted by no1marauder
If Cardinal Ratzinger had adopted the name Pope Hilarius II would you still think just as highly of him?

Originally posted by no1marauder
If Cardinal Ratzinger had adopted the name Pope Hilarius II would you still think just as highly of him?

Originally posted by Nemesio
Sincerity, admission of weakness, submission to the Holy Spirit, to start with.

Nemesio