[presidio9]

This is a good example of why non-Catholics have no business offering their opinions on subjects for which the actual facts are available and well-known. The Pope's drinking buddies most certainly do not call him Joseph in public (possibly in private -few close friends continued to call KP2 Karol affectionately). His name is Benedict. The name change thing dates back to the 6th century, when a man named Mercurius was elected Pope. To avoid confusion with the pagan god, he became John II. Over the past 1500 years this tradition has continued. There is no real religious basis for it, but it has come to symbolize the new life that is taken on when one becomes Pope. The choice of the name is also symbolic, it is indicative of the priorities that will guide his reign. It is also each Pope's first official act. It is not a formal regnal/pontifical name linked to the title. The Pope does not stop being the Pope when he goes home each night. And the idea that "it is not an actual legal name change" is one of the more asinine things I have read on FR in a while. The Pope is head of state of the Holy See, the oldest nation on the planet. When he says someting, it is official and binding. To compare him to Queen Elizabeth, who did not change her name and who's presiding role over however many million British subjects is ceremonial doesn't even make a heck of a lot of sense.

I forgive you because I know that you didn't understand this, but the man's name as far as you are concerned is Benedict. For you to refer to him by any other name isn't even an insult. It just looks like you don't know what you're talking about.

[AnalogReigns]

I realize that Wikipedia is not accepted as authoritative, in any official sense, however, I think its a safe bet that the article about Pope Benedict XVI/Joseph Ratzinger was written by the Vatican.

In that article—written by the Church—it states very clearly that the name Benedict XVI is actually a formal pontifical name—chosen, you are correct, as his first act as pope.

I’d be willing to bet you, that if Ratzinger has a driver’s license, or owns any real property back in Germany, the baptismal name “Ratzinger” is used—and has NOT been changed to “Pope Benedict XVI.” In the same way that Queen Elizabeth II was NOT named that before her coronation (rather her baptismal name was and still is: Elizabeth Alexandra Mary), and is still a Windsor, Pope Benedict XVI is still a Ratzinger, though his formal name—connected with is title as Pope, is Benedict XVI (not merely “Benedict.”)

It is no sign of disrespect to call a man by his family/baptismal/personal/legal name. Non-Roman Catholics are under no obligation to honor someone with a formal pontifical name—of an institution we do not recognize as actually catholic (universal)after all—especially in America, where our Constitution formally disavows titles (why we say Mr. President).

It may sound “stupid” to you, but non-Roman Catholics do routinely refer to Ratziner by his personal name—and that’s how the rules of English are established, by usage, not by a central hierarchical human authority—even that of popes.

So please do not presume to correct usage, or profess knowledge of things you really do not know.