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No Popes Named Michael

Question:

Has there ever been a pope who has taken the name Michael? If not, why?

Answer:

No legitimate pope has chosen to take Michael as his papal name. The only reason why not would be simply because no pope has chosen to do so.

But the name Michael is not entirely unknown in papal history. Innocent XIII‘s birth name was “Michelangelo” (Michael the Angel), and there is currently an antipope who calls himself Pope Michael.

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