[Verginius Rufus]

The last time a pope took a completely new name (never used before) was in 897 (Pope Romanus)--I haven't checked to see if that was his original name. John Paul I was honoring the last two popes by his name.

I saw one report that Cardinal O'Malley was also thinking of taking the name Francis if he was chosen. As a Franciscan (Capuchin) that would be natural.

There were two major Jesuit saints named Francis--Francis Xavier, who is better known, and Francis Borgia (a descendant of the Borgia pope, Alexander VI). Francis Borgia was a widower when he joined the Jesuits--one of his descendants became Queen of England (Catherine of Braganza, wife of King Charles II).

[livius]

Francis Borgia was General of the Jesuits at the time of the evangelization of major parts of the New World.