Pope

The Pope changing his name. According to Platiʹna, Sergius II. was the first pope who changed his name on ascending the papal chair. His proper name was Hogsmouth. Chambers says his name was “Peter di Porca,” and it was the name Peter he changed, out of deference to St. Peter, thinking it arrogant to style himself Peter II. (844–847).

I know no more about it than the Pope of Rome—than a man living as far off as the Cham of Tartary or Pope of Rome.

Drunk like a pope. Benedict XII. was an enormous eater and such a wine-drinker that he gave rise to the bacchanalian expression, bibāmus papaliter (See Drunk.)

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.