Pope Benedict XVI reached out today to countries that don’t have diplomatic relations with the Vatican, inviting them to establish ties soon with the Holy See.

Pope Benedict XVI signed autographs, kissed children and shook the hands of hundreds of pilgrims as his latest weekly audience found him warming up to his new role as leader of the world’s Roman Catholics.

Pope Benedict XVI met with the Italian president today in the first formal audience for a head of state since he was elected pontiff.

Pope Benedict XVI is to receive the Italian president today in the first formal audience for a head of state since he was elected to the pontificate.

Pope Benedict XVI today said he had prayed to God during the conclave not to be elected Pope, but that “evidently this time He didn’t listen to me”.

Pope Benedict XVI received a hero’s welcome at an audience for German pilgrims today, with the faithful cheering him, reaching out to him and giving him children to bless.

A day after reaching out to other Christians and to Jews in his installation Mass, Pope Benedict XVI met with members of the Muslim community today and assured them the church wanted to continue “building bridges of friendship”.

After extending a hand to other Christians, Jews and “nonbelievers,” Pope Benedict XVI made a meeting with religious leaders his first public appointment today.

Security forces took up posts around the Vatican today and cleared streets for an expected 500,000 pilgrims arriving for the ceremony formally to install Pope Benedict XVI and offer the pontiff a major chance to set the tone for his papacy.

Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin tonight said Pope Benedict’s choice of name was a clear message of how he would lead the Catholic Church.

A number of special masses are due to be held throughout Ireland this weekend in honour of the newly elected Pope Benedict XVI.

Moving confidently through his first days as pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI acted to guarantee continuity in church leadership while trying to brighten his austere image.

Germany’s popular press took a swipe at British counterparts today for their coverage of Pope Benedict XVI’s election, declaring in a banner front-page headline that “the English are insulting our pope!”

Got a prayer or a problem for the new pope? No problem – now you can email him.

Pope Benedict XVI today pledged to work to unify all Christians and to continue implementing the Second Vatican Council, as he outlined his goals following an election that sent a signal the church was intent on sticking to tradition as it confronted 21st-century problems.

Officials and churchgoers from around the world expressed hope today that the new Pope will continue the work of his predecessor by building interfaith bridges. Even China said icy ties with the Vatican could improve – but only if the church breaks off relations with Taiwan.

Pope Benedict XVI celebrated his first public Mass as the 265th leader of the Roman Catholic Church today after one of the shortest conclaves in a century, which sent an unmistakable signal that the church – buffeted by 21st-century problems – is intent on sticking to tradition.

The President, the Taoiseach, opposition politicians and Catholic bishops in Ireland have all welcomed the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as Pope.

Two American cardinals with extensive Vatican experience insisted new Pope Benedict XVI was not the cold disciplinarian many believed him to be.

Students at the seminary where Joseph Ratzinger studied for the priesthood as a teenager in the 1940s erupted in cheers today at the news that their townsman had become the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Benedict XVI faces a daunting prospect as he embarks on his new role, the leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland said tonight.

The Taoiseach has welcomed the election of cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as the new Pope.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, a long-time guardian of doctrinal orthodoxy, has been elected pope this afternoon in the first conclave of the new millennium.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger alienated some Roman Catholics in Germany with his zeal enforcing church orthodoxy. But in the conservative Alpine foothills of Bavaria where he grew up, he remains a favourite son who many think will make a good pope.

The Vatican conclave of cardinals has announced that cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is the new Pope.

The successor to John Paul II has been elected, Vatican Radio announced today.

Bells of St Peter’s ring to signal election of a Pope.

Black smoke emerged from the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel chimney again today as the scarlet-robed cardinals inside failed in their second attempt to elect a new Pope to build on John Paul II’s legacy and heal deep rifts within the Roman Catholic Church.

Cardinals will make another two attempts to elect a pope today after failing in their first vote of a historic papal conclave, in a secret and sacred quest to choose a new leader for the Roman Catholic Church.

Black smoke wafted from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney in Vatican City this evening, signalling that the cardinals holding the first papal conclave of the new millennium had held their first vote – but failed to elect a new leader for the world’s 1.1 billion Roman Catholics.

Cardinals from six continents made their solemn procession to the Sistine Chapel today to convene the new millennium’s first conclave – a secret and sacred gathering to elect a pope who will guid the world’s 1.1 billion Roman Catholics into a new era.

The election of a new Pope is important for the entire human family, the Catholic Primate of Ireland said today.

Hundreds of thousands of special stamps issued to mark the period between Pope John Paul II’s death and the election of his successor have sold out, the Vatican post office said today.

Gathering beneath a brilliant sky, thousands of pilgrims converged on St Peter’s Square today as cardinals held a Mass before shutting themselves inside the Sistine Chapel to begin their election of a new Pope.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, considered a top contender to be the next Pope, made his final stump speech before being sequestered in the Sistine Chapel today, lashing out at the trends he said were taking root in the Roman Catholic Church.

In a historic gathering steeped in intrigue, cardinals from six continents today open their first conclave of the new millennium to elect a pope who will inherit John Paul II’s mantle and guide the world’s 1.1 billion Roman Catholics into a new era.

Cardinals enjoyed the few last hours today to confer with aides or pray with faithful before they were required to check-in at a top-security hotel in Vatican City, where they will be sequestered in secret sessions in the Sistine Chapel to elect the next pope.

ISEQ-listed bookmaker Paddy Power has launched a new website dedicated to betting on who will be the next Pope.

Senior Catholic clergy say recent mass attendance figures are at their highest in more than 30 years.