Life of a bishop
Big questions are being asked about the future of the Catholic Church as it prepares to select a new pope while grappling with issues ranging from the aftershocks of last year's Vatileaks scandal to sexual abuse crises.
Yet day-to-day life also continues among members of the Church, like Polish Bishop Tadeusz Pieronek, whose routine was documented by Reuters photographer Kacper Pempel.
Bishop Pieronek conducts an early morning Mass at Krakow's famous Wawel Cathedral.
He kneels during the service.
He leaves the cathedral after the ceremony.
The bishop shakes hands with a tour guide near his home in Krakow.
He walks up the stairs to his apartment at Wawel castle.
He sits in an armchair at home as he opens his letters.
He sits and works at the computer.
He looks out over Krakow from his balcony.
The bishop dresses to perform the ritual of confirmation in Poronin, southern Poland.
He hangs a cross around his neck.
Pieronek conducts the confirmation ritual.
He holds out his arm to touch a young man's head as part of the ceremony.
He takes off his bishop's robes after the ritual.
Pieronek is greeted by a follower after he performed the confirmation ceremony.
He converses with his fellow clergyman before a meal.
Bishop Pieronek walks through the snow as he leaves the parish in Poronin.
