UK priest's 'shock' at new Pope

Father Lyons said he was "concerned" by the selection

A priest of the Portsmouth Diocese, Father Ray Lyons, has said that he is "shocked" and "concerned" that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger has been elected Pope.

The 78 year-old German, who is thought to have a conservative outlook, took the name Benedict XVI.

Father Lyons had hoped someone with a "reform agenda" would be elected to act as a "healer and reconciler".

"I felt we needed a healer and reconciler and I don't think he is the man to do that job," he told the BBC.

'Great thinker'

"He is a great thinker who will probably go along the same lines as his predecessor, but he is not what I felt was needed."

Father Lyons, who was the executive secretary of the National Conference of Priests for five years, recalled meeting the new Pope and described him as "a very nice man".

"He is very polite and intelligent," he said.

"We just have very different views on the best direction for the church."

He also expressed surprise at the new Pope's choice of name, saying that the name Benedict suggested he would break with tradition - although this would not be consistent with his conservative reputation.