New Pope’s first message may be encoded in the name he chooses

THE first message a new Pope sends to the world is encoded in the name he chooses.

“John” would connote a gentle father while “Pius” could herald an era of deep conservatism. A name from the distant papal past - improbable ones like Zephyrinus, Hilarus or Formosus - would send Catholics scurrying to their history books to see what it could mean.

The maxim “Nomen est omen” (Latin for “a name is a sign”) is as valid today for Popes as it was for ancient Romans whose emperors took new names or titles when they assumed power.