BREAKING NEWS ~ Pope elected News
BREAKING NEWS ~ Pope elected

[JURIST] Following what appeared to be a puff of white smoke coming from the Sistine Chapel a few minutes ago, bells are now ringing at the Vatican indicating that Roman Catholic cardinals have elected a new pope, as yet unidentified. Observers had suggested that an election in the first days of balloting in the conclave could mean the elevation of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger [Vatican profile] of Germany, an early favorite of conservatives and Dean of the College of Cardinals. An announcement is pending from the Vatican. For the very latest developments, listen to Vatican Radio live [in Italian].

12:43 PM ET – In the traditional "Habemus Papam" proclamation from a balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square, the new Pope has just been named as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, taking the name of Benedict XVI. EWTN-TV, the US-based Catholic television network, is providing live video.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Thomas Becket, former Chancellor of England, murdered by Henry II's knights

On December 29, 1170, Archbishop Thomas Becket, former Chancellor of England, was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral by knights acting in the name of Henry II.

Becket and Henry had been entangled in a power struggle over, among other things, criminal jurisdiction over clergy. Read a contemporary account of the murder of Thomas Becket.

Texas attains US statehood

On December 29, 1845, Texas became the twenty-eighth state to join the United States of America when US President James K. Polk signed the Ordinance of Annexation. Texas had a complicated path to statehood because it had formerly been part of Mexico and then an independent republic. The US Congress passed the Annexation of the Republic of Texas Joint Resolution on March 1, 1845. Voters in Texas then approved the Ordinance of Annexation in October, before it was approved by the US Congress and signed into law by President Polk on this day in 1845. The US Supreme Court later ruled in Texas v. White that, despite its unique path to statehood, Texas did not have the right to secede from the union.