Details Emerge of How Benedict Became Pope [View All]

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The cardinals' vote for German Joseph Ratzinger, John Paul's doctrinal enforcer for 23 years, showed they wanted continuity and rejected a reformist change of course.

As Benedict XVI settled into power as head of the world's 1.1 billion Roman Catholics, interviews and leaks from conclave cardinals made clear that he had built up strong momentum even before the election began, outmaneuvering moderate opposition. Ratzinger went into the conclave on Monday as favorite but many Vatican experts felt he was too divisive and too old, at 78, to win. They expected an alternative to emerge.

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Italian newspapers, considered to have the best inside track on events inside the secret meeting, agreed that Ratzinger garnered well over the two thirds, or 77, votes he needed from the 115 voting cardinals.

Some suggested he won more than 100.

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