As the world speculates about the direction Pope Leo XIV will chart, cardinals and clergy on Friday provided glimpses into his background and social stances—while keeping the inner workings of the conclave under wraps.

German Cardinal Reinhard Marx highlighted the depth of experience, cultural insight, and linguistic fluency Robert Prevost—elected pope on Thursday—gained during his years in the United States and Peru, calling them key qualifications.

“That convinced me this was a strong possibility, and I’m genuinely pleased with the outcome,” Marx told reporters. 

Chicago-born Prevost, who holds dual U.S.-Peruvian citizenship, spent decades in Peru. He is fluent in English and Spanish, speaks French and Italian, knows some German, and reads Latin.

“His first word as pope was about peace—a crucial statement that set the tone,” Marx noted, referring to the pope’s initial remarks from St. Peter’s Basilica.

Marx added that Leo XIV is likely to continue advocating against conflict and violence, following the path laid by Pope Francis. “We need that alternative voice, and I believe Pope Leo will provide it.”

Former President Donald Trump celebrated the election of the first American pope, though past social media posts reveal that Leo had previously challenged U.S. policy, particularly around migration, during his time as a cardinal.

“As pope, I doubt he’ll be provocative in that regard,” Marx said, “but he won’t hesitate to take a principled stand when needed.”

A senior figure in Prevost’s Augustinian order suggested Leo’s style will contrast with Francis’s famously candid, spur-of-the-moment commentary.

“Pope Francis often spoke right off the cuff. Pope Leo, I think, will reflect first—deliberating on his message before sharing it,” Rev. Joseph Farrell, Vicar General of the Order of St. Augustine, told Reuters. “That’s a commendable trait for someone in leadership and service.”

Farrell, who’s known the new pope since the mid-1980s, shared that he had lunch with him just a day before the conclave began. Prevost, though considered a potential contender, wasn’t seen as a frontrunner.

“We asked how he was coping, and he admitted he hadn’t been sleeping as soundly,” Farrell recalled, noting the pope’s emotional connection to his Augustinian community in those final days before the election.

A Name with Purpose

Choosing a papal name is a pope’s first significant decision, and Prevost’s selection of “Leo” sends a clear signal about his priorities.

“His name is his mission,” said Serbian Cardinal Ladislav Nemet, Archbishop of Belgrade, who dined with the new pope on Thursday evening.

Pope Leo XIII, the last to bear the name, is remembered for championing workers’ rights between 1878 and 1903, advocating fair wages, humane working conditions, and union rights.

Nemet told HRT Croatian Radio and Television that the topic came up during dinner, revealing Leo XIV’s deep concern with justice and social equity.

“He said he wants to focus more on global social issues, particularly justice,” Nemet shared. “He also pointed out that just as Leo XIII responded to the industrial revolution, we are now in the midst of a digital revolution.”

Nemet added, “Today, as in Leo XIII’s era, we face challenges around employment, as digital advances reduce the demand for human labor.”