Pope John Paul II beatified in Rome - in pictures

Pilgrims hold candles during a prayer vigil at the ancient Circus Maximus arena on the eve of the ceremony Photograph: Alessia Pierdomenico/Reuters

A priest reads a newspaper at dawn as he waits for the beatification ceremony Photograph: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images

A pilgrim holds a banner of John Paul II Photograph: Giorgio Cosulich/Getty Images

Polish pilgrims gather in St Peter's Square Photograph: Alessandra Benedetti/Corbis

Volunteers hold back the crowds before opening the gates along Via della Conciliazione Photograph: Giorgio Cosulich/Getty Images

Sister Marie Simon-Pierre Normand (fourth from left) poses with other nuns and Swiss Guards. Normand's recovery from Parkinson's disease has been attributed to be a miracle perfromed by John Paul II Photograph: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters

Bishops attend the beatification ceremony Photograph: Anja Niedringhaus/AP

A nun holds a statue of the Virgin Mary in front of St Peter's basilica Photograph: Filippo Monteforte/AFP

Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives to celebrate a mass Photograph: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters

Priests attend the beatification mass in Saint Peter's Square Photograph: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters

Sister Normand (r) and Sister Tobiana hold the glass reliquary containing the blood of the late Pope John Paul II Photograph: Stefano Rellandini/Reuters

Pilgrims celebrate as the banner signifying John Paul II's beatification is uncovered Photograph: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP

Italy's president, Giorgio Napolitano, and prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, attend the mass Photograph: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters

Bishops pay their respects near the coffin of the late Pope John Paul II Photograph: Max Rossi/Reuters

Pope Benedict XVI kisses the relic containing blood of Pope John Paul II Photograph: Osservatore Romano/EPA

Cardinals kiss the casket containing the late Pope John Paul II in St Peter's Basilica Photograph: Andrew Medichini/AFP

A tapestry of John Paul II is displayed on the facade of St Peter's Basilica Photograph: Anja Niedringhaus/AP