3 years ago
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about Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI arrived today here in Israel. Why do popes don't retain their real names these days?
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It is a very old tradition for a new pope to change his name upon being selected as pope. The earliest recorded pope to change his name was John II in 533 AD. It was about 400 years before another pope is known to have changed his name, but it has been common practice for about 1,000 years.
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