Faithfully waiting
Rain did not dampen the excitement of vast crowds of believers who flocked to St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City to await the election of the new pope.
A total of 115 cardinals remained sequestered in the Vatican to select the Church's 266th pontiff. Crowds outside waited for them to release white smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel - the signal that they had reached their decision.
Crowds of faithful sheltered from the rain while waiting for smoke to rise from the Sistine Chapel's chimney.
A believer holds out a picture of Christ.
A man grips a rosary as he waits for smoke signalling the cardinals' decision.
Women wait for smoke to rise from the Sistine Chapel.
A man stands wrapped in the Vatican’s flag as he waits.
A believer looks up towards the sky.
Faithful shelter from the rain.
A believer holds a rosary.
Two nuns stand together underneath an umbrella.
A group of nuns walk through the rain.
One nun holds up a rainbow-coloured umbrella.
Nuns react as black smoke rises on the first day of the papal conclave, indicating that no decision about the new pope had yet been reached.
A priest smiles beneath his umbrella.
A child holds up a crucifix while waiting for smoke from the Sistine Chapel.
Three women hold up placards supporting a U.S. pope.
A man smokes as crowds wait in the rain for the cardinals' decision.
