In April 2005, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI following the death of Pope John Paul II.

The new leader of the Catholic Church was elected after four ballots of the papal conclave.

The late Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor was one of 115 cardinals who took part.

He spoke to Rebecca Kesby in 2013.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

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(Photo: Cardinals conduct their final mass before entering into the conclave in 2005. Credit: Getty Images)