Pope Leo XIV signaled on Saturday he would continue with the vision and reforms of Pope Francis, telling the world's Catholic cardinals the late pontiff left a "precious legacy" that they must continue.

In his advocacy of the poor, migrants and a more open church, many people see the new pope as a continuation of his predecessor.

The election of a first North American pontiff came after the death of the first Latin American pope and signaled a relinquishing of papal authority from Europe.