Catholics around the world were skeptical at first about an American pope. But Pope Leo XIV’s multicultural and multilingual identity has put them at ease.

From Washington to Rome, leaders around the globe responded to the surprise election of American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the next head of the Catholic Church.

Columnist Gustavo Arellano talks about the election of the first pope from the United States, Pope Leo XIV and how he believes it is a call for Americans to be better people.