Pope leads Easter service in rain-lashed Vatican square with tens of thousands of faithful

Pope Francis is framed by Swiss Guards as he celebrates an Easter mass, in St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 5, 2015. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) (The Associated Press)

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Faithful wait in the rain for Pope Francis' arrival to the Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 5, 2015. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) (The Associated Press)

Pope Francis is framed by Swiss Guards as he celebrates an Easter mass, in St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 5, 2015. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) (The Associated Press)

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis and tens of thousands of people have braved a rainstorm for Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square.

Francis was shielded from the pelting rain by a canopy outside St. Peter's Basilica, while prelates carried umbrellas in the yellow and white colors of the Vatican. Following days of warm temperatures and sunshine, Rome early Sunday was lashed by thunderstorms, and the faithful wore rain slickers and held umbrellas during Mass.

Enduring the elements, the faithful seemed to be following Francis' urging during a late-night Easter vigil service Saturday in the basilica. During that ceremony, he encouraged people to go beyond their "comfort zone," banishing indifference from their life.