Inauguration Mass
Cardinals attend the inaugural mass of Pope Francis in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis celebrates his inaugural mass on Tuesday among political and religious leaders from around the world and amid a wave of hope for a renewal of the scandal-plagued Roman Catholic Church. Reuters

Pope Francis celebrated the rite of the inauguration in St. Peter’s Square.

The Mass of the Petrine Ministry introduced Pope Francis as the head of 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide, and he received two objects that symbolize his office: the Ring of the Fisherman, representing the pope's role as a fisher of men, as was St. Peter, and the pallium, a white wool stole embroidered with five red silk crosses symbolizing the five wounds of Jesus Christ, Vatican Radio said.

Pope Francis received the fisherman’s ring and the pallium before the public ceremony and mass held on Tuesday, Vatican Radio said.

Pope Francis prayed at the Tomb of St. Peter, before arriving at St. Peter’s Square. The pallium was placed on Pope Francis by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, and the symbolic vestment was placed on the Tomb of St. Peter overnight prior to the ceremony. The fisherman’s ring, newly cast of gold-plated silver for Pope Francis, was placed on his finger by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, Vatican Radio said.

As many as one million people were expected to attend the new pope's installation Mass, including representatives of 132 governments, the Associated Press said.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden attended the ceremony with Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the House Minority Leader, PBS said. Thousands of well-wishers including representatives of Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Christian faiths were also in attendance for the ceremony.

As Pope Francis made his way to the installation Mass, to deliver a homily, he stopped his vehicle to greet and bless a handicapped man who was in attendance. The video of the pope’s arrival, courtesy of the Associated Press, can be viewed below. Before the mass, Pope Francis, the first Latin American and Jesuit pope, spent 30 minutes traveling around St. Peter’s Square, greeting those in attendance, the AP reported.

The full mass can be viewed in two parts below.

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