"Viva il Papa."

Joseph Ratzinger is the new Pope. Took on the name of Pope Benedict XVI (a very popular name it seems).

As spiritual leader of the world's 1.1 billion Roman Catholics, he now has the task of guiding the 2,000-year-old Church in an era riven by dissent over doctrine and sweeping social changes.

The new pope's opposition to issues such as divorce, contraception, gays and the ordination of women, as well as secularism, would merely intensify the decline in church attendance and beliefs.

For me it is kinda a let down as I was expecting a more liberal and outward looking pontiff. But I guess it is more of the same with less charisma.

But it is not fair for me to judge him before he even gets down to work...but that is my opinion and I am sticking to it...for now.