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A new Pope has been elected. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany became Pope Benedict XVI, a 78-year-old transitional leader who promises to enforce strictly conservative policies for the world's Roman Catholics.

The Sun.Star website has allotted a whole section on the new Pope and the formal ceremony of his inauguration and a special page for your messages and prayers. You can also e-mail these to sunnex@sunstar(dot)com(dot)ph and sunnex1@sunstar(dot)com(dot)ph.

Electing a new Pope

The right to elect the Roman Pontiff belongs exclusively to the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, with the exception of those who have reached their eightieth birthday before the day of the Roman Pontiff's death or the day when the Apostolic See becomes vacant. The maximum number of Cardinal electors must not exceed one hundred and twenty. The right of active election by any other ecclesiastical dignitary or the intervention of any lay power of any level or order is absolutely prohibited. full story

Pope's in the 20th century

Leo XIII - Feb. 20, 1878-July 20, 1903.
Pius X - Aug. 4, 1903-Aug. 20, 1914. Benedict XV - Sept. 3, 1914-Jan. 22, 1922.
Pius XI - Feb. 6, 1922-Feb. 10, 1939.
Pius XII - March 2, 1939-Oct. 9, 1958.
John XXIII - Oct. 28, 1958-June 3, 1963.
Paul VI - June 21, 1963-Aug. 6, 1978.
John Paul I - Aug. 26-Sept. 28, 1978.
John Paul II - Oct. 16, 1978-April 2, 2005.

Ratzinger is new Pope

VATICAN CITY -- Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, a longtime guardian of doctrinal orthodoxy, was elected the new Pope Tuesday evening in the first conclave of the new millennium. He chose the name Pope Benedict XVI.full story

Benedict XVI formally begins papacy with message of openness

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI formally began his papacy by extending a hand to Jews, other Christians and "non-believers," and by signaling that he wants to be a good listener in the "enormous task" of leading the world's 1.1 billion Roman Catholics. full story

A gentler image of new Pope emerging in his first days, but tough decisions ahead

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI has pushed the right buttons in his first days as pontiff, softening his image as an austere theologian, inviting the chief rabbi of Rome to his installation and promising to keep up his popular predecessor's meetings with Roman Catholic youth. full story

John Paul's presence still felt keenly felt as his successor takes over

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI won rousing applause when he borrowed some of his predecessor's most popular sound bites. .full story

Pius, Benedict, Gregory, John Paul: What a name reveals about a pope

VATICAN CITY -- As soon as he's said "yes" to being pope, the new head of the Roman Catholic Church will make his first major papal decision: He'll choose the name that will take him into history. full story

Pope Benedict XVI drives past Queen Sofia and King Juan Carlos of Spain, top right, during his installment Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday. Sitting in the car at left next to the pontiff is his personal secretary Mons. Georg Gaenswein.(AP)

Pope Benedict XVI greets the crowd following his installation Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 24, 2005. Dignitaries and an estimated 500,000 pilgrims, many of them from the pontiff's native Germany, arrived in Rome for the ceremony to formally install Pope Benedict XVI and offer the pontiff a major chance to set the tone for his papacy. (AP)

Pilgrims wave a flag of the Philippines and hold a banner saying "Up with Pope Benedict XVI" during the installation Mass of Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday. Dignitaries and an estimated 500,000 pilgrims, many of them from the pontiff's native Germany, arrived in Rome for the ceremony to formally install Pope Benedict XVI and offer the pontiff a major chance to set the tone for his papacy. (AP)