Several prominent U.S. Catholic bishops and cardinals recalled the spiritual process of electing Pope Leo XIV this week, with Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York hailing the new pontiff as a “citizen of the world” who will seek to build bridges with President Donald Trump and other global leaders.

The six clergymen gave some insights into how they see the Pope Leo XIV papacy and said the quick conclave showed unity among the cardinals. They were speaking at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops at the Pontifical North American College in Rome on Friday.

“It should not startle us that we would look to Pope Leo as a bridge builder. That’s what the Latin word ‘pontiff’ means, he’s a bridge builder,” Dolan said after being asked by a reporter if the pontiff would be a “counterweight” to Trump. 

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost of the U.S., appears on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Thursday. (Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters)

Let’s just say it was a good, good, good impetus to get this over with.”