Crowds celebrate new Catholic pontiff in St Peter's square - in pictures

White smoke emerges from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel heralding the election of a new pope Photograph: Gregorio Borgia/AP

Nuns pray on St Peter's Square earlier in the day Photograph: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images

The crowd reacts as the white smoke rises Photograph: AFP/AFP/Getty Images

More joy at the Vatican as they see the smoke Photograph: Kevin Coombs/Reuters

Nuns celebrate as the white smoke billows from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel Photograph: Emilio Morenatti/AP

The crowd in St Peter's Square react to the election of a new pope Photograph: AFP/AFP/Getty Images

People cheer near a US flag Photograph: Tony Gentile/Reuters

Joyful nuns cheer at the news in St Peter's Square Photograph: Dmitry Lovetsky/AP

The faithful cheer as white smoke rises from the chimney Photograph: Kevin Coombs/Reuters

Crowds wait eagerly for the new Pope to appear Photograph: Tony Gentile/Reuters

An Argentinian flag flies above the crowd of ten of thousands people gathered in Saint Peter's Square Photograph: Alessandro Di Meo/EPA

French school children show their joy as newly elected Pope Francis I appears on the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

The faithful take photos of Pope Francis as he speaks from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica Photograph: Michael Sohn/AP

Pope Francis speak to the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica Photograph: Michael Sohn/AP