Pope Benedict XVI elected in lan

Pope Benedict XVI was elected by an overwhelming majority of his fellow cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church, possibly rallying an impressive 100 out of 115 votes, Italy's La Repubblica has reported.

The exact number of votes in favour of Joseph Ratzinger will likely never be known, as records of the four ballots of this week's conclave have been sealed and can only be opened upon order of the pontiff himself.

But citing Vatican sources, La Repubblica said the German-born Pope won the support of far more cardinals than the strict two-thirds majority needed to be elected.

Pope Benedict was a favourite from the very first round of voting, the daily's respected Vatican expert Marco Politi reported, adding that the number of his supporters increased at each round.

"It was easy to elect him," the newspaper quoted Mexican Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan as saying.

In the fourth round Tuesday afternoon, Pope Benedict XVI may have garnered up 100 votes, one vote more than those garnered by his predecessor John Paul II in 1978, La Repubblica said.

In the first ballot, he got some 40 votes with the same number of ballots going to Italy's Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, it said.

But by Tuesday morning, many of the undecided had begun to converge on the former head of the key Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, the Vatican's top doctrinal authority.

Tuesday's lunch break was key, with liberal cardinals supporting Cardinal Martini deciding to back Pope Benedict XVI, although at least 10 cardinals refused to change camps, the daily said.

The high prelates broke into an applause as the scrutineers announced the result of the vote, but tension remained high until the new Pope accepted his elevation as pontiff. Then there was further applause.

Later that evening, the cardinals celebrated with a champagne toast at a dinner with Pope Benedict XVI, according to German cardinals.

Pope Benedict XVI elected in landslide: report