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Two pontiffs made saints as two look on.
A million pilgrims bear witness on day of four popes: Two pontiffs made saints as two look on - but who invited Mugabe?
- Francis and Benedict XVI have today honoured John XXIII and John Paul II by declaring them saints
- Polish pilgrims carryirng the red and white flags of John Paul's homeland were among the first to arrive
- Most of those who arrived first had camped out overnight along the side streets leading to the square
- Others had not slept at all and took part in all-night prayer vigils hosted at a dozen churches in Rome
Even Rome had never seen a day like it.
Two living popes came together to mark the moment when two former popes were declared saints.
The streets of Vatican City were bursting with almost a million pilgrims from all over the world eager to witness the epoch-making day in the history of the Roman Catholic Church.
It is the first time that two popes have been made saints at the same time.
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Filled with the faithful: Around one million people flooded into St Peter's Square today to witnesses the canonisation of two popes
Gathered masses: This aerial shots show the crowds massed from the river Tiber to the steps of St Peter's basilica for the ceremony
Faithful filling the square: Pope Francis has declared his two predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints in an unprecedented ceremony
Holy men: Pope Francis I, right, embraces his predecessor Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, during the historic ceremony
Canonised: Catholics from Paraguay parade images of John Paul II, right, and John XXIII, left, who are now saints
Pope Francis greets Robert Mugabe, the president of Zimbabwe, in St. Peter's Square
On camera: As three photographers record the scene, Pope Francis swings an incense burner during the historic double canonisation ceremony
In front of huge crowds: Pope Francis leads a celebration to canonise two Popes, John Paul II and John XXIII, at St Peter's Square at the Vatican
In charge: Pope Francis leads a solemn celebration in St. Peter's Square. Hundreds of thousands of people filled the square today
Ceremony: Francis (pictured) has coaxed Benedict XVI out of retirement and urged him to take part in the public life of the church
Greetings: Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI meets Italian President Giorgio Napolitano in St Peter's Square at the Vatican
Big moment: Catholic faithful attend the canonisation ceremony of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II in St Peter's Square at the Vatican
Mass: Pope Francis, flanked by two others, kisses the main altar in a mass ceremony ahead of the canonisation itself
The devotion of generations of Catholics for John Paul II and John XXIII fuelled the religious fervour that gripped the city, on a day dubbed by worshippers to be the ‘day of four popes’.
As former Pope Benedict XVI looked on, Pope Francis told the sea of pilgrims that both popes were ‘men of courage, who lived through times of tragedy but were not cowed by them’.
They came from far and wide. Almost 100 foreign delegations, including the King and Queen of Spain, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, representing the UK, were at the ceremony, along with 150 cardinals and 700 bishops.
Making a controversial appearance was Robert Mugabe, who was able to flout his EU travel ban because the Vatican is exempt from European rules. The Zimbabwean dictator later took advantage of a photo opportunity with Francis.
Incense: Pope Francis swings a censer as he walks in front of relics from Popes John Paul II and John XXIII as part of the double canonisation
Ritual: Prelates, dressed in white, gather in front of St Peter's basilica ahead of the historic ceremony
Relics: Pope Francis receives a relic of John Paull II - a vial of his blood - from a woman whose brain aneurysm purportedly disappeared after she prayed to him
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