World reaction: World leaders greeted the election of Pope Benedict XVI warmly yesterday, wishing the new pontiff well.
President Bush praised the choice of a conservative cardinal, calling him a "man of great wisdom and knowledge".
"He's a man who serves the Lord," said Mr Bush.
In Britain, Queen Elizabeth, titular head of the Church of England, the main constituent part of the worldwide Anglican communion, and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh, sent their "best wishes" to Rome.
Their words were echoed by religious leaders, politicians and Catholics across the UK. Worshippers who had gathered at London's main Roman Catholic cathedral applauded loudly upon hearing the name of their new pope. Bells rang out at Westminster Cathedral and the papal flag fluttered in the wind.
One of the UK's most senior Catholics, the Archbishop of Liverpool, described the new pope as "wise, profound and humble". The Most Rev Patrick Kelly, who has met Pope Benedict on several occasions, said he expected him to be a very different leader to his predecessor.
Iqbal Sacranie, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, added his support: "We very much hope that he will further advance the respectable relationship between the faith communities built by his illustrious predecessor. He can be rest assured about the Muslim world's fullest support on social, moral and political issues common between us."
Chief Rabbi Dr Jonathan Sacks said: "We welcome the new Pope and wish him every success in the daunting challenges that lie ahead. I hope he will speak in defence of the covenant of human solidarity in alleviating poverty and disease, illiteracy and absence of hope in so many parts of the world."
In Germany, Pope Benedict's country of birth, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder said: "That the new Pope Benedict XVI comes from Germany, that is a great honour for our whole country. In Pope Benedict XVI, a pope has been chosen who knows the world church like no one else. He is a great, world-renowned theologian. Pope Benedict XVI is a worthy successor to Pope John Paul II."
In a statement, the secretary-general of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, said he "congratulates His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on his assumption of the papacy. His Holiness brings a wealth of experience to this exalted office. The United Nations and the Holy See share a strong commitment to peace, social justice, human dignity, religious freedom and mutual respect among the world's religions."
In France, President Jacques Chirac said: "I send Pope Benedict XVI my warmest congratulations and sincere good wishes for the high mission that has just been entrusted on the head of the Catholic Church.
"France, faithful to its history and to the principles that guide its action, will pursue the trusting dialogue that it has always had with the Holy See, in particular in the common fights for peace, justice, solidarity and the dignity of man."
The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, said: "We congratulate His Holiness and wish him every success. We hope the strong and historic relations between Palestine and the Vatican will be as strong as ever and that the Vatican's support for a just peace in the Holy Land will continue."
Israeli president Isaac Herzog said: "Time will tell whether he will be as committed as his predecessor to the improvement of relations with the Jewish people. The new Pope is not well known in this respect and we will have to wait and see what will develop. But we convey our congratulations to the (Christian) faithful."
The choice divided Latin America, a region where John Paul battled leftist priests and whose poor and hungry often cannot afford to follow Roman Catholic doctrine.
Church bells tolled from Mexico to Brazil as the Vatican announced the decision but joy was tempered by disappointment that the new pontiff was not from Latin America, home to about half the world's Catholics.
While some welcomed a figure who has been a strict defender of Catholic orthodoxy for more than two decades, others worried his ideas might clash with Latin America's social problems.
Argentine theologian Ruben Dri, a professor at the University of Buenos Aires, criticised the choice as a setback to those who hoped to see a more progressive Catholic Church.
"This is a triumph for the dogmatic, capitalist right. For me, it is the worst choice they could have made." - (Agencies)