The Catholic Church’s College of Cardinals chose a new pope on Tuesday afternoon in Rome.

The conservative German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, 78, was elected the 256th pope, according to The New York Times. Cardinal Ratzinger took the name Pope Benedict XVI a day after conclave began on Monday.

The 115-member College of Cardinals elected the new pope after three ballots. All but three of the cardinals were appointed by the late Pope John Paul II, said James Wiggins, professor emeritus of religion at Syracuse University.

‘It would appear likely they decided some form of (ideological) continuity,’ Wiggins said. ‘Progressive, liberal Catholics are not likely to be very pleased by this appointment.’

Wiggins said he was still surprised by the quickness of the new pope’s selection.

Cardinal Ratzinger has voiced his opposition to the liberalization of the Catholic Church and moral relativism because he believes they would lead to anarchy, Wiggins said.

‘He has reiterated forcefully very Catholic views,’ Wiggins said. ‘He will compromise nothing with regards to what he thinks is the truth. … His perspective is there are unchangeable things to the Catholic faith.’

Pope Benedict XVI will face challenges because of a secular Europe, Wiggins said. There are currently more Catholics in the Southern Hemisphere than there are in the Northern Hemisphere.

‘He’s been quite clear that he suspects there will be a smaller but more faithful Catholic Church,’ Wiggins said.

Pope Benedict XVI aims to re-evangelize Europe, Wiggins said.

‘It’s going to be quite the transition,’ said Chris Murray, a junior majoring in advertising and economics. ‘Certain topics in the church will be stricter about certain things.’

Wiggins said he does not expect Pope Benedict XVI’s papacy to be as long as the late Pope John Paul II’s papacy because Pope Benedict XVI is 78 years old. Because of the new pope’s age, he is not expected to travel as much as the late Pope John Paul II either.

‘It would be surprising in the extreme, I think, if at 78 he became the same world traveler as John Paul,’ Wiggins said.

Rebecca Rought, a freshman aerospace engineering major, said she liked the consistent choice of Cardinal Ratzinger, but admitted it would have been ‘cool’ if the College of Cardinals had elected the Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze.

‘I would like to have someone liberal; he’s a lot like John Paul II,’ Rought said.

DESIGN EDITOR MICHAEL SWARTZ AND MANAGING EDITOR JARED NOVACK CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT.

Published on April 18, 2005 at 12:00 pm