St Peter's Square is now full of people eager to greet the new popeCardinal Joseph Ratzinger has been elected as the pope - the head of the world's 1.1 billion Roman Catholics.
Taking the name Pope Benedict XVI, the 78-year-old German has appeared on the balcony of the Vatican palace.
His arrival was greeted by cheers from the many thousands of pilgrims who had packed St Peter's Square as news of his election spread.
He was chosen on the third round of votes by the 115 cardinals meeting to select Pope John Paul II's successor.
