Pope John Paul II is the youngest this century at 58 years old

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Cardinals at the Vatican have chosen the first non-Italian Pope for more than 400 years.

Catholics around the world have been astonished by the choice of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, the Archbishop of Krakow.

Few people had suggested him as a possible successor to John Paul I, who died last month after just 33 days in office. He is barely known outside his native Poland.

After two days and eight votes, the result of the final, conclusive vote giving a two-thirds majority plus one to the Polish bishop was signalled with a plume of white smoke above the roof of the Sistine Chapel, in accordance with ancient tradition.

The new Pope, who will be known as John Paul II, is also the youngest this century, at 58 years old.

In the early evening, the new Pope appeared before the crowd of about 200,000 who had gathered in St Peter's Square.

He stepped on to the central balcony of St Peter's to a rapturous ovation from the crowd, and gave his first blessing as Pope.

Then, in a speech that was at times emotional, he told how he had been afraid to accept the nomination, but had done so in obedience to Christ.

Speaking in fluent Italian, he put paid to fears that a non-Italian would not be able to communicate effectively, saying, "in speaking your - our - language, if I make mistakes, then correct me."

The crowd roared its approval, and the Pope smiled in response, with a hint of the informality that characterised the style of his predecessor, John Paul I.

The appointment brought an ecstatic response from Poland, where as Bishop of Krakow Karol Wojtyla took an uncompromising stand against the Communist regime.

There has been no official response from the government in Warsaw.

More than 80% of Poland's 35 million people are practising Catholics, maintaining their faith in the face of strong opposition and sometimes brutal suppression from the Communist authorities.

The new Pope warned as recently as last year that the Church was facing the threat of "programmed atheisation" in eastern Europe.

It is thought likely that the fight for freedom of religion in the Communist bloc will be a major theme of his papacy.  

The ban on handguns follows the Dunblane massacre

On 13 March Thomas Hamilton walked into the gym at Dunblane primary school and killed 16 young children and their teacher. He also injured 13 other children and three teachers. Hamilton, a former scout master, then shot himself.

Today's announcement follows publication of Lord Cullen's inquiry into the massacre which concluded Hamilton's horrific attack could not have been predicted.

But it made 23 recommendations to tighten rules on gun ownership and monitor those who work with children.

The proposal to ban all handguns - except .22-caliber target pistols - would leave Britain with some of the toughest laws on private possession of guns.

Home Secretary Michael Howard told a packed House of Commons he would make sure the measures were passed as quickly as possible through parliament.

But the move has angered both those for and against private gun ownership.

The Snowdrop Campaign, set up by victims' families after Dunblane, wants to see a total ban on handguns and called the plan an "unacceptable compromise".

The opposition Labour Party welcomed the report and the government's swift reaction to it but urged ministers to bring about a complete ban.

Shadow Home Secretary Jack Straw said politicians should have acted in a similar vein nine years ago after the Hungerford massacre.

Former Tory cabinet minister David Mellor also felt the proposals did not go far enough.

He asked: "Isn't it time to conclude that, literally and metaphorically, the game is up for handguns now?"

But gun club owners warned thousands of jobs would be in jeopardy if the proposal became law.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror newspaper, Ross Armstrong, owner of Medway Shooting Club in Kent said: "People are killed by drunk drivers but no-one demands a ban on cars. Further restrictions suit no-one."

rapturous: feeling great rapture or delight（兴高采烈的）

papacy:the office and dignity of the pope, or pontiff, of Rome（教皇在位期间）