'Long live the Pope' resounds in St Peter's Square

The inauguration Mass for Pope Francis is currently under way in St Peter's Square in Rome before tens of thousands of people, including 132 world leaders, marking the official start of his papacy.

Francis, who was elected by a conclave of cardinals last week to take over from Benedict XVI, took a tour of the square earlier this morning in an open-topped vehicle. Shouts of 'Long live the Pope' resounded from the crowds and Pope Francis stopped frequently to greet the crowd and kiss babies held up to him. He got out of the vehicle at one point to bless a disabled man. Communion will be distributed by 500 priests throughout the crowd.

Francis has suggested that he will take a more modest approach than predecessors and is dressed in simple vestments for the inauguration ceremony.

One of the Pope's first duties was to go down to the tomb of St Peter to venerate it. Francis was then presented with his papal pallium made of lambs' wool - symbolising his role as shepherd of his flock - in the main square.

Pope Francis has said that he wants "a poor Church, for the poor", a revealing statement of how he plans to lead the Catholic Church especially in light of his decision to take the name of Francis, in honour of St Francis of Assisi, the 13th-Century son of an aristocrat who spurned a life of luxury to live with and for the poor. At the end of a Mass he celebrated on Sunday, he waited outside the church and greeted people as they left, like a parish priest, asking many of them to "pray for me".

Pope Francis said the Holy Spirit had inspired the resignation of Benedict XVI and guided the cardinals choosing him as the next pontiff.

Pope Francis has also sent his first Tweet as pontiff, writing: "Dear friends, I thank you from my heart and I ask you to continue to pray for me. Pope Francis."