Waiting for a new pope – in pictures

Catholic priests, observed by a boy, wait for the election of the 266th Roman Catholic pope in St Peter's Square Photograph: Oded Balilty/AP

A pilgrim dressed in sackcloth kneels in prayer in St Peter's Square, on the first day of the conclave to decide on the new pope Photograph: Oded Balilty/AP

A priest reads from a prayer book in St Peter's Square as cardinals are gathered in the Sistine Chapel during the second day of the conclave Photograph: Oded Balilty/AP

Members of the faithful in St Peter's Square react after white smoke billowed from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel, indicating that a new pope had been elected Photograph: Oded Balilty/AP

A nun buys a copy of L'Osservatore Romano, the newspaper of the Holy See, on the day after Pope Francis was elected Photograph: Oded Balilty/AP

Nuns gather in St Peter's Square for the inauguration of Pope Francis at the Vatican Photograph: Oded Balilty/AP

Crowds gather in St Peter's Square for the inauguration of Pope Francis at the Vatican Photograph: Oded Balilty/AP

A gust of wind blows a nun's wimple as she stands in front of St Peter's Basilica on the day after the new pope was announced Photograph: Oded Balilty/AP

Pope Francis, the new leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, waves to the crowd as he arrives for his inauguration mass in St Peter's Square Photograph: Oded Balilty/AP

A priest delivers communion to the faithful during the inauguration mass for Pope Francis as a Swiss Guard looks on Photograph: Oded Balilty/AP