Video: 'Announcement of John Paul II becoming Pope October 1978'

(Monday, October 16, 1978, 6:18 p.m. Central European Time) — The Roman Catholic church elected its first non-Italian pope in 455 years today, naming Polish Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, 58.

Wojtyla defeated Giovanni Benelli on the eighth ballot on the third day with, according to the Italian press, 99 votes from the 111 participating electors.

Wojtyla, who took the name John Paul II, appeared on the balcony at 7:15 p.m. CET, and while gripping the balustrade, broke precedent by delivering a brief speech before his first Urbi et Orbi blessing in Italian.