Pope Leo IXV, 69, is the new Pope of the Catholic Church for over 1 billion people worldwide. After Pope Francis’ death at the end of last month, the conclave selected Robert Prevost with a successful signal of white smoke billowing out of the Sistine Chapel.

Leo is both the first American Pope and the first of the Augustinian order, a mendicant order of the Catholic church that values communal living and service. Leo was born in Chicago and is of Italian and Spanish descent. 

“I feel like it’s not a good time to have an American Pope, because of everything going on in the U.S. right now,” sophomore Ashley Galetta said.

However, in the Vatican he was notably considered the “least American” of the U.S. cardinals. The majority of his work took place in Peru, where he served two decades, gaining titles bishop, archbishop and cardinal.

While many of Pope Leo’s goals and positions remain unclear, he seems to be likely to continue in former Pope Francis’ steps with policies focused on the environment and global poverty as well as continue to reform the church. However, Leo has come out and said that he thinks the ordainment of women in the Church won’t necessarily solve any problems, and may cause them.

“I hope he’s as good as the last one [Pope Francis],” Galetta said. “I hope he’s good with foreign relations.”

Pope Leo himself, along with friends and family, have affirmed his commitment to fulfilling his role as Pope with focusing on carrying out his faith, rather than focus on ambition, power and superiority.

“For you, I am a bishop, with you, after all, I am a Christian,” Pope Leo said in his first remarks.