WASHINGTON (AP) - The spotlight belonged to Nancy Pelosi on yesterday as she became the first woman in U.S. history to stand at the head of the House of Representatives, second in line to the presidency.

Pelosi, a 66-year-old Democrat, aimed to introduce herself to America not just as the San Francisco liberal decried by Republicans, but also as an Italian-American Catholic, mother of five and native of gritty Baltimore, where her father was mayor.

She arrived on the House floor for the historic event with her six grandchildren in tow, including baby Paul Michael Vos, born to her daughter Alexandra in early November. She thanked her family for supporting her journey "from the kitchen to the Congress."

After her election by a vote of 233-202, the chamber's Democratic-Republican breakdown, Pelosi stood holding the sleeping infant - who did not stir - and shook hands as she accepted congratulations from her fellow House members.

Minutes later, cheers erupted in the chamber as House Republican leader John Boehner handed her the speaker's gavel. Pelosi always has said she wants to be judged by her abilities, not her gender, but she happily acknowledged the importance of her achievement.

Pelosi was sworn in by Rep. John Dingell, the longest-serving member of the House.

Dingell, a Democrat whose district includes Ann Arbor, administered the same oath to former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) , 12 years ago when Republicans seized the House after 40 years of Democratic control - and the 79-year-old is set to get back his gavel as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

"Today I thank my colleagues. By electing me as speaker you have brought us closer to the ideal of equality that is America's heritage and America's hope," Pelosi said. "This is an historic moment - for the Congress, and for the women of America. It is a moment for which we have waited more than 200 years. Never losing faith, we waited through the many years of struggle to achieve our rights."

"For our daughters and granddaughters, today we have broken the marble ceiling," she said. "For our daughters and our granddaughters now, the sky is the limit."

Pelosi had entered the chamber to prolonged cheers from fellow House members and the packed visitors' galleries, where onlookers included actor Richard Gere and singer Tony Bennett, crooner of "I Left My Heart in San Francisco."

Pelosi began her history-making day at a prayer service with her husband, Paul, and a daughter at St. Peter's Catholic Church near the Capitol. Attending the service with her were Republican leaders that her party put into the minority in the November election: Boehner and Minority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri.

Also there were new House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland, a one-time Pelosi rival elected by House Democrats to be her No. 2 over her protests, and Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean.

She also attended a ceremonial swearing-in of the Congressional Black Caucus, where the incoming leader of the 42-member group, Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-Mich.) made clear that they intended to have a voice in the new Congress. "She must deliver because black people delivered that we might have this majority," Kilpatrick said of Pelosi.