Vatican City - as a word”We have paper!“From the corridor of the famous St. Peter’s Basilica, thousands of people pressed together, bursting out in cheers and tears.

But soon, the crowd in St. Peter's Square booed a boo as the world awaited the next careful choreography: the Latin proclamation, just elected as the new leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

The shocking voice rose when Cardinal Robert Prevost's name was announced. This is what few people expect: the new pope comes from the United States.

From 133 cardinal voters around the world (including from countries that have long been barely represented in Cardinal College), there are speculation that the new pope can hail from the global south.

After the precedent of the late Pope Francis shocked the pope, perhaps some in the crowd expect another person in the history of the pope - but not this one.

"The last thing I imagined was the pope of America," said Daniel Runde, 21, a Catholic from the United States, who was with two friends in St. Peter's Square.

"From my opinion, Leo XIV is gradually disappearing," said Runde's friend and Catholic Max Gleason.

Gleason said he was moved by the vulnerability of the new pope because he seemed to fight back tears when he made his first public appearance.

"It seems like he's packing that love there, and I'm excited about it," Gleason said.

Gleason and Runde liked Pope Leo Xiv's statement about building bridges, who seemed to care about unity in an increasingly divided world.

"Christ preceded us. The world needs His light," Pope Leo XIV said in his first speech to the world. "Humans need him as a bridge to God and His love. They also help us and help each other, through dialogue, meetings, to make us all one person, peace forever."

But not everyone in Rome likes the idea of ​​the American pope.

A man said: "Very bad news, a US pope. After Trump, very bad news."

Some people have the feeling that an American pope (leading a church that includes Catholics around the world) can make the balance of power greater.

Although he is American, the new pope also has citizenship in Peru, where he lived and worked for many years. He even admitted his community in Chiclayo, turning briefly to Spanish during his speech.

"I think it's really cool to speak a little in Spanish, too," Lund said. "It just hints at how open he is and reaches all corners of the earth without leaving some behind, like continuing what Francis does."

All faithful and secular will be watched in the coming months to try to learn about the new pope and what his priorities are and in which direction he will guide the church.

Although still uncertain, Gleason and his friends are full of hope.

"I can't say for sure, but only seeing his minutes and the emotions he brings - he looks like someone to smash it," Gleason said.