Pick a Papal Name Trivia Quiz

Answer:

Boniface has been a relatively popular name for popes, although mainly in the early years of the Catholic Church. There are eight in all, numbered from I to IX - the discrepancy arises from Boniface VII, who is now classed as an antipope. Two of the Bonifaces have been canonised - Boniface I from 418-422 and Boniface IV from 608 to 615. The most recent popes to choose the name date from 1294 to 1303, and 1380 to 1404. They were numbers VIII and IX.

By contrast, there has only been one Pope Lando, who was the pontiff for only about six months between 913 and 914. Not much is known about him, although the name seems to be his actual name, not an adopted one. He is the only pope prior to Francis in 2013 to bear a unique name. Clement has been used by fourteen popes, three of whom are now called antipopes. The first dates from 88 to 98, and is the only one to be declared a saint, while the most recent was pope from 1769 until 1774.

Adrian has been chosen as a papal name six times, with the first being pope from 772 until 795 and Adrian VI being the Bishop of Rome from 1522 until 1523. He wasn't the shortest lived, though, as Adrian V died only five weeks after being elected. Adrian IV is probably the best known, especially in the UK, as he is the only English born pope, serving from 1154 until 1159. Innocent was quite a popular choice, with thirteen popes of that name, including one now listed as an antipope. The first was pope form 401 to 417, and he was later declared a saint, with Pope Innocent XIII being the pontiff from 1721 to 1724. Innocent V and Innocent XI both have the designation of 'blessed', the step below sainthood. The definition of an antipope, which has been, and will be again, mentioned a few times, is one not legitimately recognised as pope - in a monarchy, this would be similar to a pretender to the throne. These antipopes had enough support to be called popes, though.

There have been eight popes with the name of Urban, the first being in position from 222 to 230 and the only one to be declared a saint. The final one in the date range for this quiz was in place from 1623 until 1644. Two of them numbers II and V, are recognised as blessed and number VII was in place for only twelve days in 1590 before succumbing to malaria. Five popes chose the name of Sixtus - it really ought to be six - and the first three are all saints. Sixtus V is the most recent up to the end of 2000, with his dates being 1585 to 1590.

Martin, sometimes displayed as the Latin Martinus, has been used by five popes, although the second and third popes have since been renamed as Marinus. Because of this mistake, the popes from 1281 to 1285 and 1417 to 1431 were numbered as IV and V. The papal name Victor has also been used five time although the final two, both from the twelfth century, have been classed as antipopes. The first, Victor I, whose dates are 189 to 199, has been declared a saint. There are four Sylvesters, again the first is a saint with his dates being 314 to 335. The third was another short-lived holder, lasting only a couple of months in 1045 and Sylvester IV is another antipope.

There have been four popes named Eugene. The first one is another to be called a saint while Eugene IV was the pontiff from 1431 to 1447. Julius has been used as a papal name on three occasions. Julius I, another saint, dates from 337 to 352 while the other two are both from the sixteenth century. Julius II was pope from 1503 to 1513 while Julius III was in position from 1550 to 1555.

Names which were not used during the time scale of the quiz are Matthew, an apostle and the author of the first Gospel in the New Testament and Thomas, another apostle but the one who doubted the resurrection of Jesus, which may be why the name has been avoided. Barnabas is a disciple and apostle in the early days of the Christian church and Silas was one of the companions to St Paul. Hiram is a name mentioned in the Old Testament as belonging to kings of Tyre and Hezekiah is another Old Testament king, this time of Judah.