Pope Francis inauguration
Hundreds of thousands have flocked to St. Peter's Square for the inauguration ceremony.
Prelates attending
Francis walked in a procession along the length of the basilica as prelates chanted a Litany of Saints in Latin. After the service, Pope Francis thanked world leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, as well as the leader of the Orthodox Church - a first in 1,000 years.
Vow to embrace the poor and weak
Pope Francis made an appeal for the protection of the environment and the defence of the weakest members of society. The former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina took his name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, a symbol of poverty, charity and love of nature.
The Fisherman's Ring
The Fisherman's Ring is placed on the finger of Pope Francis by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals. Each pope picks his own ring, which is destroyed at the end of his papacy. Francis' official ring looks like gold, but in fact is only gold plated.
Cardinals in attendance
A delegation of cardinals swore their allegiance to Pope Francis. This took on special significance as the previous pope is still alive.
Pope Francis' arrival
Pope Francis arriving in Saint Peter's Square for his inaugural mass at the Vatican. For nearly a half-hour before the Mass began, Francis toured the square in an open-air vehicle, waving and shouting "Ciao!" to well-wishers.
Close to the faithful
During his tour of St. Peter's Square Pope Francis stopped to kiss babies handed up to him. Over the past week he has surprised his security detail by his impromptu forays into the crowds.
Welcoming Pope Francis
Up to 200,000 faithful crowded into St Peter's Square from the early morning hours. Many were waving banners with the image of the Pope.
Record numbers
Delegations from 33 Christian Churches and 132 national governments or international organizations, as well as Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist leaders, came to Rome for his inauguration mass. The Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, was among them. It was the first time that the top representative of the Orthodox Church had attended a papal inauguration since the split with Rome in 1054.