Posted March 20, 2013

Pope Francis was elected the 266th Supreme Pontiff March 13. Our photo gallery with Catholic News Service shows his first week was a whirlwind of activity greeting ordinary people and dignitaries, and praying with thousands. Click on each photo to see a larger version.

  • Newly elected Pope Francis holds a mate, the traditional Argentine herbal tea, given to him as a present from Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner at the Vatican March 18. (CNS photo/Argentine Presidency handout via Reuters)

  • Pope Francis kisses the altar as he leaves after celebrating his inaugural Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican March 19. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

  • Pope Francis shakes hands with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican March 19 as the new pontiff receives dignitaries following his inaugural Mass. Biden led the U.S. delegation to the ceremonies. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano)

  • Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio is seen in his youth in this undated handout photo. (CNS photo/Clarin handout via Reuters)

  • Pope Francis celebrates Mass at St. Anne’s Parish within the Vatican March 17. The new pope greeted every person leaving the small church and then walked over to meet people waiting around St. Anne’s Gate. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Catholic Press Photo)

  • Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, right, now Pope Francis, is pictured traveling by subway in Buenos Aires in 2008.The 76-year-old Jesuit, who took the name Francis, became the first Latin American pope March 13. (CNS photo/Diego Fernandez Otero, Clarin handout via Reuters)

  • Pope Francis greets people after celebrating Mass at St. Anne’s Parish within the Vatican March 17. The new pope greeted every person leaving the small church and then walked over to meet people waiting around St. Anne’s Gate. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

  • Pope Francis waves from the popemobile as he greets people in St. Peter’s Square before celebrating his inaugural Mass at the Vatican March 19. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

  • Pope Francis greets children after celebrating Mass at St. Anne’s Parish within the Vatican March 17. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

  • Pope Francis greets people after celebrating Mass at St. Anne’s Parish within the Vatican March 17. The new pope greeted every person leaving the small church and then walked over to meet people waiting around St. Anne’s Gate. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

  • Pope Francis gestures as he leads his first Angelus from the window of his private apartment in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican March 17. (CNS photo/Max Rossi, Reuters)

  • Pope Francis prays at Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens March 16. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano)

  • Pope Francis gives the homily as he celebrates Mass at St. Anne’s Parish within the Vatican March 17. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

  • Pope Francis reaches out to bless a child as he arrives in St. Peter’s Square before his inaugural Mass at the Vatican March 19. (CNS photo/Paul Hanna, Reuters)

  • Pope Francis greets people after celebrating Mass at St. Anne’s Parish within the Vatican March 17. The new pope greeted every person leaving the small church and then walked over to meet people waiting around St. Anne’s Gate. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

  • Pope Francis greets people after celebrating Mass at St. Anne’s Parish within the Vatican March 17. The new pope greeted every person leaving the small church and then walked over to meet people waiting around St. Anne’s Gate. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

  • Pope Francis addresses an audience of journalists in Paul VI hall at the Vatican March 16. (CNS photo/Marcin Mazur, Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales)

  • Pope Francis prays as he celebrates Mass at St. Anne’s Parish within the Vatican March 17. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano)

  • Pope Francis greets a boy after celebrating Mass at St. Anne’s Parish within the Vatican March 17. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

  • Pope Francis greets a boy after celebrating Mass at St. Anne’s Parish within the Vatican March 17. The new pope greeted every person leaving the small church and then walked over to meet people waiting around St. Anne’s Gate. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

  • Pope Francis greets a man with a guide dog as he conducts a general audience in the Paul VI hall for members of the media at the Vatican March 16. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano)

  • Pope Francis greets people after celebrating Mass at St. Anne’s Parish within the Vatican March 17. The new pope greeted every person leaving the small church and then walked over to meet people waiting around St. Anne’s Gate. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

  • Pope Francis greets people after celebrating Mass at St. Anne’s Parish within the Vatican March 17. The new pope greeted every person leaving the small church and then walked over to meet people waiting around St. Anne’s Gate. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

  • Pope Francis walks outside at the Vatican March 16 in this photo released by the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano)

  • Pope Francis, left, receives his ring from Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, during his inaugural Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican March 19. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

  • Pope Francis greets Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff at the Vatican March 20, the day after the 76-year-old Jesuit was inaugurated as the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics. (CNS photo/Roberto Stuckert Filh, Brazilian Presidency handout via Reuters)

  • Pope Francis greets religious leaders during a meeting at the Vatican March 20. The pope met with the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh and Jain delegations that had come to the Vatican for his inauguration. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters)