A "dead language" that is the foundation of biolological taxonomy? I took 2 1/2 years of French in junior high school (either that or Spanish), and 3 years of German in high school. Then, much later, nearly a year of Russian during my support of the Sea Launch program. No Latin or Greek, other than terms I would pick up from physics or mathematics or chemistry. But my high school did offer Latin, and one of my friends took it. I think seminaries rely on Greek, Hebrew, and Latin (and German, if you're confessional Lutheran).

Regarding Pope Francis, the phrase that comes to mind is "Sic transit gloria mundi" (so passes the glory of the world). He had his time in the Sun, and now it's over. I think the Cardinal from Ghana is the one to select, but I'm not God.