From a priest…
QUAERITUR:
I’m sure Rome is exciting this week more than Easter Week. I noticed something peculiar watching old Habemus Papam videos. Following the sibi nomen imposuit, ir seems the name has traditionally been given first in the genitive case : “ Johannis Pauli” “ Benedicti” , but for some reason Cardinal Tauran announced “Franciscum” (accusative?) rather than Francisci. Is there a hard and fast rule on this, or some wiggle room? Just curious.
Also, JP 1 had the “primi” added in the announcement, JP2 did not get “secundi” but Benedict did have the decimi sexti … I suppose it’s not as important, but this is what I’m thinking at 2:30am.
Let’s hope for “Pii” or something good,
Here’s the formula of the announcement:
Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum; habemus Papam: Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum, Dominum [NAME in ACCUSATIVE] Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem [LAST NAME usually not declinable] qui sibi nomen imposuit [REGNAL NAME].
I suppose that the name could be in the nominative, as if there were a mental colon after imposuit [: Leo… Leo.]. That’s Leo not Lío. It could be accusative as the object of imposuit [“Leonem… Leo”]. I think it could be a kind of apposition genitive, “who has imposed upon himself the name “Leonis … of Leo”.
Anyone else on this matter of grave importance?
Pius XII – “Pium”
John XXIII ?
Paul VI “Paulum Sextum”
John Paul I – “Ioannis Pauli Primi”
John Paul II – “Ioannis Pauli”
Benedict XVI – “Benedicti Decimi Sexti”
