Habemus Papam

The Roman Catholic Church has a new pope in Rome — German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected pope and chose the name Benedict XVI. Despite worldwide speculation that the cardinals' conclave might take the church in a radical new direction by choosing a pope from Africa or Latin America, the College of Cardinals chose instead a pope who will strengthen the late Pope John Paul II's conservative legacy. They also chose a transitional pope, since Ratzinger is 78 years old.