Updated 2.15 p.m.

Pope Francis inaugurated his papacy this morning with a Mass in front of hundreds of thousands of people and foreign leaders in St Peter's Square with a simplified rite that fuelled hopes for change in the scandal-plagued Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope, has already put his mark on the papacy, abandoning much of the baroque pomp of his predecessor Pope Benedict and signalling that he wants a Church whose first priority is the poor and disadvantaged.

He toured a crammed St Peter's Square under bright sunshine before the mass in an open white jeep, abandoning the bullet-proof pope-mobile used frequently by Pope Benedict.

He stopped frequently to greet some of the hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the sprawling square, kissing babies and getting out at one point to bless a disabled person.

He wore plain white vestments and black shoes, in contrast to the luxurious red loafers that attracted attention under Pope Benedict.

The ceremony conducted from an altar on the steps of the huge basilica was also shortened to two hours after a three-hour service in 2005 when Pope Benedict began his papacy.

Before the Mass, Pope Francis collected his newly minted ring and pallium, a liturgical woollen band worn around the neck, that had been placed overnight on the tomb of St Peter under the basilica's altar.

At his request, the ring was made of gold-plated silver instead of the usual gold.

He proceeded out of the church in a column of cardinals chanting a litany calling for support for the new pontiff from saints, including several previous popes.

The new Pope used his homily, which he delivered in Italian, to emphasise the need for the faithful to assume the role of protectors - of the Church, but also of society's most vulnerable.

Power, he told the faithful, meant service. "Open your arms like St Joseph and embrace humanity, especially the poorest, most vulnerable, those who are thirsty, hungry, naked, in prison," he said.

Pope Francis said he would look to St Joseph, whose feast it is today, for inspiration in his role as protector of the Church.

Yesterday’s torrential rain gave way to crisp blue skies and spring sunshine, to the relief of pilgrims who filled the square.

Journalists were first on the scene at 5.30am today.

Police began letting in the people at 6.30am, with the fitter faithful sprinting ahead of the rest in the hope of getting a spot in the front.

MALTESE DELEGATION

Malta was represented by President Abela, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Opposition Leader Lawrence Gonzi, with Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna representing the Maltese Episcopal conference.

President George Abela, who led the Maltese delegation, told timesofmalta.com that he was struck by the Pope's message that power meant serving those around us. "He's already won all our the hearts and minds," he said.

Dr Abela and the other visiting heads of state were introduced to the Pope in St Peter's after the ceremony.

The President, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition also shared a light moment with US Vice President Biden after the ceremony.

A plane-load of Maltese day trippers also arrived in Rome early in the morning.

The Office of the Prime Minister also made possible the attendance of four children from Puttinu Cares and two people from Dar tal-Providenza, as well as their carers.

A plane-load of Maltese day trippers also arrived in Rome early in the morning

Other foreign guests included EU Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso, German chancellor Angela Merkel and even Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, who has had a European travel ban temporarily lifted to allow him to attend..

Pope Francis, a former Archbishop of Buenos Aires, yesterday lunched with Argentine President Cristina Kirchner. The two have clashed in the past, but there have already been signs of a rapprochement, with Ms Kirchner suggesting the Pope might mediate discussions over the future of the Falkland Islands.

Security tight across the Vatican

When contacted, Mgr Xuereb suggested that any queries should be addressed to the Vatican’s press office. However, these questions were not answered by the time of going to print.

Less than a week into his papacy, Pope Francis has already won over millions of Catholics with his predilection for simplicity over ceremonial pomp.

Although known as a doctrinal conservative, his colloquial style is a radical departure from the more scholarly approach to the papacy adopted by his predecessor.

He has already taken to Twitter – 418,753 followers and counting for the @Pontefix_it official account – and warned cardinals that unless the Church underwent spiritual renewal it would crumble away “like a sand castle” and become little more than “a compassionate NGO”.

The new Pope has also shown he has a good eye for symbolism, declining to sit on the Papal throne and mingling with cardinals on the Vatican’s internal buses rather than using his official car.

With over one million people expected to cram the area around St Peter’s Basilica, security is tight across the Vatican and its surroundings.

Swiss guards entrusted with the Pope’s safety will be mindful of the way in which Pope Francis gave them the slip last Sunday, when he darted out of St Anne’s church and beyond Vatican walls, to the giddy delight of those pressed against the external barricades.

THE TIMES SUPPLEMENT

The Times will tomorrow (Wednesday) feature an eight-page pictorial supplement of the inauguration Mass.