Sixtus the Sixth?

The mention of Pope names yesterday made me consult a favorite reference, The World Almanac, which of course includes a chronological list of Popes and—in italics—Antipopes. Interesting that the oddsmakers think that Benedict is the favorite name choice. Haven’t had a Benedict since 1922, when the 15th Pope of that name died. So I suppose Benedict has considerable tradition behind it, though not as much as John, which as far as my casual look at the list tells me, is the number-one papal name, with 23, not counting the two John Pauls.

Sixtus would be a fine new Pope name. The oddsmakers give it 66-1, so don’t bet the mortgage money on it. Still, I see that the next one would be Sixtus the Sixth, the fifth having occupied the shoes of the fisherman from 1585 to 1590. Other cool but unlikely choices from the annuals of the Roman Catholic Church include Anastasius, Agapitus, Pelagius, Marinus, Sergius, and the ever-popular Innocent. There’s already been more than one Pope of each of those names, though in some cases you have to go back more than 1000 years.

And the odds for a disputed election, resulting in competing Popes, one of whom history and tradition will eventually call an Antipope? Maybe with one in Rome and the other, say, in Dallas? Pretty slim. But it would make for a fine media circus — Florida in 2000 taken up a couple of notches.