At the first conclave of the new millennium, the College of Cardinals elected Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger to be the 265th pope. On April 19, 2005, he took the name Pope Benedict XVI.

He was born in Germany on April 16, 1927. He was ordained a priest in 1951, and archbishop of Munich in 1977. Three months later, Pope Paul VI elevated him to cardinal. Benedict XVI speaks several languages including Italian, English, and his native German.

Pope Benedict XVI follows Pope John Paul II as another non-Italian. He is the first German pope in centuries. He has served since 1981 in the Vatican as Prefect of the Doctrine of the Faith, and President of the Pontifical Biblical Commission. He served for 20 years as John Paul II's chief theological adviser. Benedict XVI brings to the papacy a sense of faithfulness to doctrine.

During his first appearance as pope, Benedict XVI said, "I am a simple, humble worker of the Lord."