Photo Gallery: Pope Francis officially begins ministry in ceremony at St Peter's Square
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Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the popemobile prior to his inauguration mass in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Grace Fu meets Pope Francis in the Vatican on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: VATICAN PRESS OFFICE
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Pope Francis waves as he arrives in the popemobile surrounded by security for his grandiose inauguration mass in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Pope Francis waves the crowd from the popemobile during his inauguration mass in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the popemobile prior to his inauguration mass at St Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 19, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Pope Francis waves as he is driven through the crowd prior to inauguration mass at St Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AP
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Pope Francis prior to his inauguration mass at St Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Faithfuls stand in St Peter's square at the Vatican, prior Pope Francis' inauguration mass at St Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Crowds gather for the inauguration of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.-- PHOTO: AP
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Visitors wave flags from Germany and Argentina before the inauguration of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AP
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European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso (left), and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy take their seats for the inauguration mass of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AP
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A cardinal (right), arrives before the inauguration mass of Pope Francis in St Peter's square at the Vatican on March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Bishops arrive to take their seats at the inauguration mass of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AP
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Nuns line up for the inauguration mass of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AP
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Nuns wave flags before the inauguration mass of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A young priest punches the air as he reaches his seat for the inauguration of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AP
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Nuns wait before the inauguration mass of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A woman poses before the inauguration mass of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Faithfuls hold a banner with a photo of Pope Francis before his inauguration mass in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AFP
Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the popemobile prior to his inauguration mass in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AFP
Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Grace Fu meets Pope Francis in the Vatican on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: VATICAN PRESS OFFICE
Pope Francis waves as he arrives in the popemobile surrounded by security for his grandiose inauguration mass in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AFP
Pope Francis waves the crowd from the popemobile during his inauguration mass in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AFP
Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the popemobile prior to his inauguration mass at St Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 19, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
Pope Francis waves as he is driven through the crowd prior to inauguration mass at St Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AP
Pope Francis prior to his inauguration mass at St Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Faithfuls stand in St Peter's square at the Vatican, prior Pope Francis' inauguration mass at St Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AFP
Crowds gather for the inauguration of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.-- PHOTO: AP
Visitors wave flags from Germany and Argentina before the inauguration of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AP
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso (left), and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy take their seats for the inauguration mass of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AP
A cardinal (right), arrives before the inauguration mass of Pope Francis in St Peter's square at the Vatican on March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AFP
Bishops arrive to take their seats at the inauguration mass of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AP
Nuns line up for the inauguration mass of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AP
Nuns wave flags before the inauguration mass of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AFP
A young priest punches the air as he reaches his seat for the inauguration of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AP
Nuns wait before the inauguration mass of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AFP
A woman poses before the inauguration mass of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AFP
Faithfuls hold a banner with a photo of Pope Francis before his inauguration mass in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis toured St Peter's Square in an open-top car at the start of his inauguration on Tuesday as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. -- PHOTO: AFP
VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis has officially begun his ministry as the 266th pope, receiving the ring symbolising the papacy and a wool stole symbolising his role as shepherd of his 1.2-billion strong flock.
A cardinal intoned the rite of inauguration at the start of Tuesday's Mass, saying "the Good Shepherd charged Peter to feed his lambs and his sheep; today you succeed him as the bishop of this church."
