That is all we need! More Mary's and Joseph's!!!
Pope makes a plea to parents to give their children traditional names (are you listening Posh and Becks?)
It will come as a welcome blast of commonsense for those who despair at the craze of giving children names such as Brooklyn, Apple and Princess Tiaamii.
The Pope has weighed into the debate with a plea to parents to give their children traditional first names.
Benedict XVI told a Vatican baptismal ceremony that the Christian name is an ‘indelible sign from the Holy Spirit’ and protects family life, which is ‘being threatened’.
Pope Benedict XVI, pictured yesterday, at a Vatican baptismal ceremony. He made a plea for parents to give their children traditional first names. He said a child's Christian name is an 'indelible sign from the Holy Spirit' and protects family life, which is 'being threatened'
He said baptism with a strong name was ‘the start of spiritual life which is fulfilled through the Church’.
His comments came just hours after David and Victoria Beckham
announced they were expecting their fourth child, after their three
sons, Brooklyn, Cruz and Romeo.
It is unclear whether they will take his views on board, although
the Pope would probably be pleased with Romeo, which in Latin means
‘pilgrim to Rome’.
He would, however, undoubtedly frown upon the names of Gwyneth
Paltrow and Chris Martin’s daughter Apple, Katie Price and Peter Andre’s
daughter Princess Tiaamii, and the entire brood of Bob Geldof and the
late Paula Yates – named Fifi Trixibelle, Peaches and Pixie.
People are already speculating what the Beckhams will christen their fourth child, a baby sibling for sons Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz
The Pope added: ‘With the sacrament of baptism the Church prays and
entrusts to God a new child [and] parents and godparents agree to give
the newly baptised a Christian education.
‘This is a great responsibility. That is why I encourage all the
faithful to rediscover the beauty of baptism and being part of God’s
great family.’
Theologian Gianni Gennari told an Italian newspaper: ‘By insisting on
Christian names the Pope is not violating the rights of parents but
simply asking for seriousness when it comes to baptism.’
The Pope would probably frown on names like Princess Tiaamii, here with dad Peter Andre, and Shiloh Nouvel, here with dad Brad Pitt
Often celebrity names start trends. While there has been no huge spike in Phoenix (left) or Suri, (right) there was a rise in UK babies christened Lennon after Liam Gallagher named his son Lennon
A priest can refuse to baptise a child if the name given is not
recognised. The rule is rarely enforced, although a couple from Genoa
were recently refused permission to register their child as Venerdi,
meaning Friday.
Denmark, Spain, Germany, Portugal and Argentina are among those
countries which publish lists of acceptable names from which parents
must choose.
Those banned in Portugal include Lolita, Maradona and Mona Lisa.
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