Pope says surprised by election

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI said Wednesday in his first homily as head of the Roman Catholic Church that his election had taken him by surprise.
"Confounding all my expectations, divine providence through the votes of the venerable father cardinals has called me to succeed this great pope," he said, in a reference to his immediate predecessor John Paul II.
In the same homily, delivered in Latin, he vowed to develop "collegiality" -- allowing local authorities and bishops greater power -- within the Church.
Collegiality is a code word for taking power away from the central Vatican administration and allowing for certain decisions, including setting policy at a local level, to be decided by grassroots dioceses.
The pope, Germany's Joseph Ratzinger, was speaking a day after his election as pontiff.

04/20/2005 08:41 GMT