Your messages for the new Pope

It has been announced that Joseph Ratzinger is the new Pope.

He will take the name of Benedict XVI and is described as an "intellectual."

Soon after he was elected, Pope Benedict XVI came out onto the balcony of the Vatican Palace to greet his followers.

What are your messages for the new Pope?

E-mail us now!

Unfortunately this topic is now closed but there are Comments pages on other subjects on the main Chat index.

Your comments

I think Benedict XVI was a good choice as he will already know a lot about what the pontificate entails. Being a close friend of John Paul II is a good thing as well because he will hopefully carry on his teachings and as a Catholic I hope he brings the Catholic Church into the 21st Century. I wish him all the best luck!

Bridget, 14, Birmingham

I hope he will become a great leader of the Catholic church. Good luck!

Catherine, 12, Spennymore

I just don't understand why the don't choose young Popes.

Laura, 10, Leeds

I think the new Pope will be a good Pope. He will be good for the church and for our religion.

Kyle, 9, Manchester

I wanted the new leader to allow for change, this man won't.

Rosie, 15, Northolt

Benedict XVI will be a good and kind Pope.

Alex, 9, Manchester

I think he will be great. I can't wait to see what he does!!!

Melissa, 12, Bishops Stortford

I am so happy for Joseph! My teacher said right now he's probably praying to God to be a good Pope but on the inside I think he's really screaming and crying with joy! I'm glad this great German cardinal won!!

Katrina, 13, Berlin

I think Pope Benedict will be a great Pope. I hope things will go smoothly for him.

Julie-Marie, 11, Bexleyheath

As a Catholic, I am slightly worried about the appointment of the new Pope. Firstly he is very extreme and does not want change. But that is what the Roman Catholic Church needs otherwise we will never get younger priests. This leads me to my next point. Josef Ratzinger is 78 which is very old, and he will probably not be Pope for very long.

Tom, 14, Southport

We are very excited to hear that a new Pope has been elected and we wish him every success in his new role. We will remember him in our prayers.

4B, Emmaus Primary School, Liverpool

We are happy for him to become the new Pope.

Oscar & Matthew, 11, Harrogate

I think it's great that we have a new Pope. I don't think he should be a traditionalist, the main reason is because he is in charge now, so therefore he should make his own decisions up. I wish Pope Benedict XVI the best of luck!

Tom, 14, Leeds

I'm not excited at all. What's so great about one more person being dressed in some pretty clothes and waving?

Atlanta, 15, Southampton

If he got 2/3 of the votes he must be good. Well done Pope Benedict XVI!

Sarah, 15, Cardiff

I'm happy that they've elected a new Pope, and I hope he is as good a man as John Paul II. Also, I am excited to find out his stance on other religions in conflict, for example in the Middle East.

Isabella, 14, London

Well hopefully he will be a good Pope, like our previous one, but why choose such an old one?! He may not be in power for long, and then we will have to get a new one!

Rosie, 14, London

I'm so happy that the new Pope has been elected. I am so excited as well since this will be something that I remember my whole life. God bless the new Pope Benedict XVI and I hope he brings around some new and good reforms to the church!

Dana, 15, USA

I think that the Roman Catholic Church has made a good decision and that Benedict XVI will be a good Pope but he has a lot to follow on with from Pope John Paul II. Good Luck to him!

Laura, 15, Cranbrook

I think the next Pope should be much younger but I think this one will do a good job.

Jo, 11, Tetbury

I think it's great to now show more diversity in the candidates for the future Pope, it's way better than always just having Italians! It will be interesting to see how Benedict XVI will cope at such an old age.

Emma, 13, Belfast

I think hopefully the next Pope will be just as good as the last Pope and I wish him good luck.

Shafiqur, 10, Birmingham

I think the new Pope is too old and we will have an election soon again.

Killian, 10, Dublin

I am very glad that we have a new Pope however I think they should have elected someone younger because this Pope is in his old age.

Sophie, 15, Birmingham

I'm really excited to see what happens but we'll never forget John Paul.

Rachel, 11, Cardiff

It seems kind of strange not seeing Pope JP II on the balcony but good luck to him I'm sure he'll do just as much for us :D

Kate, 14, Leeds

I like the new Pope.

Christina, 9, Housten

I cannot wait to see what the new pope does to the Catholic Church and see if he changes the whole church with his decisions. Good luck for the new Pope.

Dave, 11, Lichfield

I'm not religious in anyway so I don't really care about the Pope and the fact that a new one has come to power but I would like to wish the new one good luck!!!!!

Chloe, 14, Swindon

I have to wish the Pope good luck, as it will be hard to fill the gap that Pope John Paul left.

Matthew, 14, Southend

I hope he is a good Pope, and I'm sure he will be, but I'm not excited as other people, because I'm not a Christian.

Malista, 12, London

Having a new Pope will probably mean a lot to some people and it will be an adventure for those people as well so good luck Benedict XVI.

Catherine, 10, Huddersfield

I wish him the best of luck! I hope he will be just as great as John Paul II was!

Laurie, 14, Birkhill

How exciting is it that he is the first German Pope in over 1000 years!!??

Nancy, 11, London

It'll take me a long time to get used to the new Pope as the only Pope I have ever lived to see is Pope John Paul 2nd but I wish him all the best of luck!

Alice, 11

I hope the new Pope will be as good as Pope John Paul 2nd.

Rachel, 10, Sandwich

Alleluja! I am HAPPY! I am Polish and I was very sad when our Pope died, but now I know that church is in good hands.

Ola, 10, Riga

I think that the new Pope will follow on from John Paul. I think he would do a great job.

Lionel, 12, Basingstoke

I think he may go through a hard time at first, with some people saying he can never live up to John Paul II; but I think that he will definitely do a good job. Congrats!!

Rachel, 14, London

I am really interested to see what changes he will make and I hope he will help to end world poverty.

Caroline, 14, Maidstone

Good luck to him, but will he be able to follow in such deep footsteps?

Emily, 15, Cardiff

Wow, a new Pope. Being a Catholic, my church will go nuts!

Orla, 11, London

It is great there is a new Pope, I hope he is good as the last one!

James, 13, London

I'm not really that excited, as it is only a Pope.

Inderjit, Glasgow

As a Catholic myself, I'm hoping that Pope Benedict XVI will do the same job if not better job than Pope John Paul II. May he teach us even more about God. Good luck Pope Benedict XVI!

Jarleth, 10

I am really excited about having a new Pope and can't wait to see what he does. Good luck!

Melissa, 13, Sussex