Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany's Bavaria, a hard-line guardian of conservative doctrine, was elected the church's 265th pope on Tuesday evening in the first conclave of the new millennium. Ratzinger is the first Germanic Pope in 1000 years.
“Dear brothers and sisters, after the great Pope John Paul II, the cardinals have elected me — a simple, humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord. I entrust myself to your prayers.”
“The fact that the Lord can work and act even with insufficient means consoles me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers,” the new pope said in his first public address in St. Peter's Square after being elected by the Conclave of Cardinals.
“I entrust myself to your prayers.”