Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger selected as the new Pope (April 19, 2005)
White smoke appeared today at 5.50 pm local time over the Sistine Chapel in Rome - the first sign that a new Pope had been elected by the Conclave of Cardinals. A few minutes later, the bells of St. Peter's Basilica began ringing, confirming the election. Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger has been selected as the successor to Pope John Paul II as the 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, and will be known as Pope Benedict XVI.
The conclave of 115 cardinals started the process of electing a new Pope on Monday 18th April. However, it has taken two days for the required two thirds majority to be reached.
The new Pope appeared to the public within an hour of the first announcement. He appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica and delivered a short address to the crowd in Italian. Tens of thousands of people were in St Peter's Square to observe the results of the election.
The election of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger follows the death of Pope John Paul II on April 2.
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