Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger from Germany has been elected the new pope choosing the name Benedict the 16th.

Cardinal Jorge Arturo Medina Estevez appeared on the balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica to announce the election.

The new pope then appeared on the on the balcony to give his blessing to the thousands gathered in Saint Peter's Square, the city of Rome and the world.

In addressing the crowd he described himself as a humble worker in the vinyard of the Lord and asked the faithful to remember him in their prayers.