Photos: Easter at the Vatican
March 31, 2013
Pope Francis leads the Easter celebrations on St Peter's square on March 31, 2013 at the Vatican. Easter Sunday celebrates the Christian belief in Jesus's death and resurrection and is marked around the world, often with a variety of not strictly religious local traditions like painted eggs or Easter Bunnies. VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images ( 518566802 )
A general view shows St Peter's square before the Easter celebrations on March 31, 2013 at the Vatican. Pope Francis prepared to lead his first Easter Sunday celebrations with tens of thousands of people expected in St Peter's Square for a mass marking the holiest day in the Christian calendar. VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images ( 518566462 )
A seminarian stands as he looks before Pope Francis leads the Easter mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican March 31, 2013. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi ( POPE/ )
Swiss guards stand at attention at the end of the Easter mass led by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican March 31, 2013. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini ( POPE/ )
Swiss guards stand at attention before the start of the Easter mass led by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican March 31, 2013. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini ( POPE/ )
Pope Francis (R) leads the Easter mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican March 31, 2013. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi ( POPE/ )
Swiss guards stand at attention before the start of the Easter mass led by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican March 31, 2013. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi ( POPE/ )
Pope Francis greets the faithful prior to his first 'Urbi et Orbi' blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica during Easter Mass on March 31, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Francis delivered his message to the gathered faithful from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in St. Peter's Square after his first Holy week as Pontiff. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) ( 165118245 )
Pope Francis greets the faithful prior to his first 'Urbi et Orbi' blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica during Easter Mass on March 31, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Francis delivered his message to the gathered faithful from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in St. Peter's Square after his first Holy week as Pontiff. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) ( 165117913 )
Priests under umbrellas give communion to faithful as Pope Francis leads the Easter mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican March 31, 2013. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi ( POPE/ )
Pope Francis greets the faithful prior to his first 'Urbi et Orbi' blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica during Easter Mass on March 31, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Francis delivered his message to the gathered faithful from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in St. Peter's Square after his first Holy week as Pontiff. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) ( 165117915 )
Pope Francis greets the faithful prior to his first 'Urbi et Orbi' blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica during Easter Mass on March 31, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Francis delivered his message to the gathered faithful from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in St. Peter's Square after his first Holy week as Pontiff. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) ( 165118643 )
Pope Francis kisses a baby after celebrating his first Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, March 31, 2013. Pope Francis celebrated his first Easter Sunday Mass as pontiff in St. Peter's Square, packed by joyous pilgrims, tourists and Romans and bedecked by spring flowers. Wearing cream-colored vestments, Francis strode onto the esplanade in front of St. Peter's Basilica and took his place at an altar set up under a white canopy. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) ( APTOPIX Vatican Pope Easter )
Pope Francis waves as he leaves at the end of the Easter mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican March 31, 2013. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi ( POPE/ )
Pope Francis passes among the faithful after celebrating his first Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, March 31, 2013. Pope Francis made an Easter Sunday peace plea, saying conflicts have lasted too long in Syria, and between Israelis and Palestinians. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) ( Vatican Pope Easter )
Pope Francis holds a disabled child as he greets the faithful prior to his first 'Urbi et Orbi' blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica during Easter Mass on March 31, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Francis delivered his message to the gathered faithful from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in St. Peter's Square after his first Holy week as Pontiff. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) ( 165119437 )
Pope Francis delivers his first 'Urbi et Orbi' blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica during Easter Mass on March 31, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Francis delivered his message to the gathered faithful from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in St. Peter's Square after his first Holy week as Pontiff. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) ( 165118004 )
Pope Francis blesses faithful during his "Urbi et Orbi" blessing for Rome and the world from the balcony of St Peter's basilica after the Easter mass on March 31, 2013 at the Vatican. Pope Francis led his first Easter Sunday celebrations with tens of thousands of people in St Peter's Square for a mass marking the holiest day in the Christian calendar. ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images ( 518568134 )
Pope Francis speaks during his "Urbi et Orbi" (To the City and the World) address from a balcony in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican March 31, 2013. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano ( POPE/ )
Faithful gather to follow the Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, March 31, 2013. Pope Francis celebrated his first Easter Sunday Mass as pontiff in St. Peter's Square, packed by joyous pilgrims, tourists and Romans and bedecked by spring flowers. Wearing cream-colored vestments, Francis strode onto the esplanade in front of St. Peter's Basilica and took his place at an altar set up under a white canopy. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) ( Vatican Pope Easter )
Pope Francis (L) puts the mitre on during the Easter celebrations on St Peter's square on March 31, 2013 at the Vatican. Easter Sunday celebrates the Christian belief in Jesus's death and resurrection and is marked around the world, often with a variety of not strictly religious local traditions like painted eggs or Easter Bunnies. VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images ( 518567117 )
A general view of a crucifix as Pope Francis appears prior to delivering his first 'Urbi et Orbi' blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica during Easter Mass on March 31, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Francis delivered his message to the gathered faithful from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in St. Peter's Square after his first Holy week as Pontiff. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) ( 165117501 )
A nun watches Pope Francis deliver Mass prior to his first 'Urbi et Orbi' blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica during Easter Mass on March 31, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Francis delivered his message to the gathered faithful from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in St. Peter's Square after his first Holy week as Pontiff. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) ( 165120289 )
Pope Francis celebrates the Easter mass on March 31, 2013 at the Vatican. Pope Francis prepared to lead his first Easter Sunday celebrations with tens of thousands of people expected in St Peter's Square for a mass marking the holiest day in the Christian calendar. ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images ( 518567985 )
Pope Francis (C) kisses the main altar as he leads the Easter mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican March 31, 2013. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi ( POPE/ )
Pope Francis delivers Mass prior to his first 'Urbi et Orbi' blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica during Easter Mass on March 31, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Francis delivered his message to the gathered faithful from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in St. Peter's Square after his first Holy week as Pontiff. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) ( 165119442 )
Daffodils in front of St. Peter's Basilica as final preparations are made before Pope Francis delivers his first 'Urbi et Orbi' blessing from the balcony of the Basilica during Easter Mass on March 31, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Francis will deliver his message to the gathered faithful from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in St. Peter's Square after his first Holy week as Pontiff. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) ( 165116737 )
Pope Francis greets the faithful prior to his first 'Urbi et Orbi' blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica during Easter Mass on March 31, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Francis delivered his message to the gathered faithful from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in St. Peter's Square after his first Holy week as Pontiff. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) ( 165118725 )
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