Pope Francis' inauguration ceremony has been underway in Rome. World leaders and religious dignitaries were among those attending.
Image: picture alliance/AP Photo
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An estimated 200,000 faithful attended the ceremony that lasted for two hours.
Delegations from 33 Christian Churches and 132 national governments or international organizations, as well as Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist leaders were attending.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, US Vice President Joe Biden and Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner are among them. Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is reported to have defied a European Union travel ban to be in the Vatican for the ceremony.
Papst Franziskus auf dem Petersplatz
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Special significance was seen in the attention of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew from Istanbul. The first time the spiritual head of Orthodox Christians attended a Roman pope's inaugural Mass since the Great Schism between western and eastern Christianity in 1054.
During the ceremony, Francis received the pallium - a special scarf - and the fisherman's ring, both symbols of the papacy.
Confirming his relative taste for simplicity, the pope has opted for a gold plated silver ring, rather than one made of pure gold.
In line with this message he vowed to protect the weak and the poor.
Pope Francis inauguration
Hundreds of thousands have flocked to St. Peter's Square for the inauguration ceremony.
Image: Reuters
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.
Image: picture alliance/AP Photo
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.
Image: Reuters
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.
Image: Reuters
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.
Image: picture alliance/AP Photo
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.
Image: Reuters
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.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
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.
Image: Reuters
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.
Image: Reuters
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The Church's mission "means respecting each of God's creatures and respecting the environment in which we live. It means protecting people, showing loving concern for each and every person, especially children, the elderly, those in need, who are often the last we think about," he said in the homily.
Before serving mass, Francis moved around St. Peter's Square to greet the faithful. Since his election six days ago he has repeatedly ignored protocol, going out of his way to reach out to his followers.
Tuesday's inauguration was televised and broadcast live around the world for the 1.2 billion followers of the Catholic Church.
The 76-year-old Argentine was elected the 266th leader of the Catholic Church on Wednesday last week, following the surprise resignation last month of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
