What’s In A Name?

Most Reverend Richard J. Sklba, Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee

New prospective parents spend a great deal of time and energy selecting the right name for a new baby. The name may reflect a cherished relative, an important saint, a contemporary entertainment star, or simply a sound that easily rolls off one’s tongue. Careful parents even worry about the shape of the initials! Recently the polls released the ten most popular names for baby boys and girls this year. The perennial favorites remain, but a few new labels surface each year.

Confirmation candidates are encouraged to select the name of a new patron saint who might reflect their own respective growing interests as young adults. The newly engaged share in discussions about names as marriage customs change and no one simply presumes that a bride will take the name of her husband’s family.

All of that, of course, is background for thinking about the name of our new Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. Only he can provide the full explanation for the choice and he’s shared some insight already, but I must say that I was intrigued as soon as I heard the sound of the name from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica!

I immediately thought of two of the major efforts within the papacy of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XV (1914-1922). That pope almost a century ago brought an end to the anti-modernist crisis in the Church. The Church had been deeply divided between those who embraced modern science and history (perhaps far too enthusiastically) and those who rejected all forms of such theological development. Pope Benedict XV tried to put an end to the denunciations against “modernists,” and even chided those who called themselves “Roman” Catholics, as if that made them better Catholics than others. The Church needs some healing of theological polemics today.

Pope Benedict XV also is remembered for his vigorous opposition to war, especially in the looming wake of the terrors of World War I. He is even noted for having insisted that any military chaplain not wear his uniform at a papal audience. The world still needs strong denunciations of war. Armies are not the way to true peace!

Undoubtedly, the great traditions of the Benedictine schools for learning and for finding a new synthesis between knowledge, faith and culture were yet another treasure to which the selection of the name could refer. Europe needs to find a new way of reclaiming its Christian heritage without discriminating against its contemporary citizens who may not share that history. Only the Holy Father himself knows the entire litany of reasons for his choice of the name. I would submit, however, that these may be some of his motives.

We shall see.