Joseph Ratzinger elected as new pontiff in Vatican

The conclave of Vatican cardinals has elected the new Pope. The 265th pontiff is cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, 78, KZ-today reports with reference to "Novosti" RIA.

115 voting cardinals from 52 countries participated in the conclave for the election of the new pontiff. The Pope was elected last night, on 19 April, on the second day of the conclave, during the fourth round of votes.

The new Pope took the name Benedict XVI.

Before his election as the new head of the Roman Catholic Church, cardinal Ratzinger was head of the congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, president of the Papal Biblical Commission and the Papal International Theological Commission.

J. Ratzinger was born in Germany on 16 April, 1927. In the end of the WWII he was drafted into assistance personnel of the German antiaircraft forces. He studied philosophy and theology in the Munich University, in 1951 he was consecrated as a priest. He taught philosophy and theology in different German Universities.

In March, 1977, he became archbishop of Munich and Freising and in June, 1977 a cardinal. In November, 2000, he was elected honorary academician of the Papal Academy of Sciences.