ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Papal name

So you know how when you're in school, your teacher will call you by your name? Well, the pope is a teacher too, but he teaches about God and Jesus. When someone becomes the pope, they get to choose a special name for themselves.

It's kind of like a superhero name! Just like how Spider-Man's real name is Peter Parker, but he goes by Spider-Man.

So, when a new pope is chosen, he gets to pick a new special name for himself. He might choose a name that is important to him or a name of a saint that he admires.

Once he picks his special name, that's what people will call him while he is the pope. It's like a nickname but more formal.

Some popes choose to keep their real name as their papal name, but most choose a new name. For example, Pope Francis' real name is Jorge Bergoglio, but he chose the name Francis when he became pope.

It's just a fun tradition for the pope to pick a special name, like choosing a secret code name for yourself!