If you asked a casual observer yesterday who the last pope was, they’d probably say Benedict XVI. Or maybe they’d get technical and name Pope Francis. But things have changed fast. Honestly, keeping track of the Vatican’s "who’s who" has become a bit of a whirlwind lately.
The name of the last pope is Pope Francis. Well, technically, he is the immediate predecessor to the man currently wearing the white cassock. Since May 2025, the world has a new Bishop of Rome: Pope Leo XIV.
For over a decade, the name Francis was synonymous with a certain kind of radical simplicity. Before him, we had the intellectual heavyweight Benedict XVI. And before that? The globe-trotting John Paul II. But with the passing of Francis in April 2025, the lineage shifted. Now, we’re in the era of Leo. It’s a name that carries a lot of weight, especially if you’re a history buff or someone who follows Catholic social teaching.
Why Everyone Still Talks About Pope Francis
Why does the name of the last pope matter so much? Because Francis changed the vibe. Simple as that. He wasn't just a guy in a hat; he was a disruptor. When Jorge Mario Bergoglio stepped onto that balcony in 2013 and chose the name Francis, he was sending a signal. He was the first to ever pick that name. He wanted to channel St. Francis of Assisi—the guy who talked to birds and cared for the poor.
People often forget how weird it was at the time. No one had dared to take the name Francis before. It felt "too big," maybe? Or maybe too humble for the flashy tradition of the papacy. But he leaned into it. He ditched the red shoes. He lived in a guest house instead of the fancy palace.
For twelve years, that name—Francis—stood for a Church that was "bruised, hurting, and dirty" from being on the streets. He talked about "the smell of the sheep." You’ve probably heard that phrase a thousand times, but it really captured his whole deal.
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The Transition to Leo XIV
Then came May 8, 2025. The white smoke went up. Out came Robert Francis Prevost, an American-born Cardinal who had spent decades in Peru and later headed the Vatican’s office for bishops. He chose the name Leo XIV.
Why Leo? It’s not just because it sounds cool or regal. He specifically pointed to Leo XIII. That’s the guy who wrote Rerum Novarum back in the 1800s—the "Magna Carta" of labor rights. By taking that name, the current pope is saying he wants to focus on the working man and the ethics of our new tech-heavy world. It’s a bit of a pivot from Francis’s focus on the environment and mercy, though they definitely overlap.
The Name of the Last Pope: Benedict or Francis?
This is where people get tripped up. Because Benedict XVI lived for nearly a decade after resigning, there was this weird "two popes" period.
- Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger): The 265th pope. He resigned in 2013. He died on New Year's Eve in 2022.
- Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio): The 266th pope. He was the "last" pope for anyone living through 2023 and 2024.
- Leo XIV (Robert Francis Prevost): The current pope (267th).
So, when you're looking for the "name of the last pope," it really depends on when you're asking. If you mean "who died most recently," that's Francis (April 21, 2025). If you mean "the guy before the current guy," it's also Francis.
It’s kinda funny how we get attached to these names. A papal name is basically a mission statement. Benedict was about "truth." Francis was about "mercy." Leo seems to be about "justice" in the modern age.
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Does the St. Malachy Prophecy Still Apply?
You can't talk about the "last pope" without some internet sleuth bringing up St. Malachy. This 12th-century prophecy allegedly listed all the popes until the end of the world. According to the legend, the 112th pope was supposed to be "Peter the Roman," who would oversee the destruction of Rome.
People were convinced Francis was that guy. They jumped through hoops to link his name to Peter. When Francis died in 2025 and the world didn't end, the prophecy pretty much fell apart for most people. Now that we have Leo XIV—a guy from Chicago—the "Peter the Roman" narrative has mostly shifted into the "it was probably a hoax all along" category.
What Really Happened With the Name Selection
When a pope is elected, the first thing they ask him is: "By what name do you wish to be called?"
It’s a heavy moment. You’ve just been handed the keys to a 2,000-year-old institution. Most guys pick a name to honor a predecessor. Leo XIV chose his name to revive a tradition of intellectual social justice. He actually talked to his brothers on the phone before the conclave to bounce ideas off them. Can you imagine that call? "Hey, if I get picked, do I sound more like a Pius or a Leo?"
Most popes avoid the name Peter. It’s considered way too cocky. No one wants to be "Peter II." It would be like a basketball player trying to wear Jordan’s number 23 for the Bulls—you've gotta be really sure of yourself to pull that off.
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Practical Takeaways for Your Next Trivia Night
If you want to sound like an expert on the papacy, here are the raw facts you need to keep straight:
- The last pope to die: Pope Francis (April 2025).
- The last pope to resign: Benedict XVI (February 2013).
- The current pope: Leo XIV (Elected May 2025).
- The first American pope: Leo XIV.
Understanding these names helps you see where the Church is heading. We moved from the German professor (Benedict) to the Argentinian pastor (Francis) to the American administrator (Leo).
The name of the last pope, Francis, will likely be remembered for opening doors that had been shut for centuries. He made the Church feel smaller, more approachable. Now, Leo XIV is trying to figure out how that "approachable" Church lives in a world of AI and global conflict.
To stay truly up to date, you should keep an eye on the official Vatican news feed or the Bollettino of the Holy See. Papal history moves slow—until it doesn't. We've had more "major" transitions in the last three years than we had in the previous thirty.
Check the date on any article you read. If it says the "last pope" is Benedict, it's outdated. If it says it's Francis, it's talking about the recently deceased predecessor. Always look for the name Leo XIV to know you're reading about the present moment.