Tuesday, April 19 2005 22:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Vatican City: Germany's Joseph Ratzinger was elected the 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church today (Apr 19, 2005) and will take the name Benedict XVI, the Vatican announced.

The name of the 78-year-old Ratzinger was announced to a crowd of around 100,000 pilgrims by Cardinal Jorge Medina Estevez of Chile, the senior cardinal deacon, from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica.

The new Pope Benedict XVI appeared on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica to a huge ovation from people filling the square.

"Dear brothers and sisters, after the great Pope John Paul II, the cardinals have elected me, a simple and humble labourer in the vineyard of the Lord," he said.