Questions about the direction of the Catholic church following the election of new pope
What will Pope Leo XIV do? Will he continue the policies of Pope Francis or take the Catholic church in another direction?
Catholics, and community members on Long Island, offered their thoughts on what they hope for most from the new pope.
"More relations with politics without being 'political,' and more inspiration across the divides to help remind leaders that are making the big decisions, who they're making them for," said Community Organizing Director Cristian Murphy.
For example, struggling migrants, and all workers for that matter - who have been looking for reassurance.
"And I think now more than ever, the worker has to be lifted up in all forms," Murphy said.
Another issue is women in the church and their role, which still needs defining. Pope Francis began that process when he asked Dr. Phyllis Zagano at Hofstra University to study it.
"I don't think there's any going back. I think that in American terms, Pope Leo XIV would have the opinion that you hire the most qualified person, and I don't think as a 1977 graduate of an American college, that he would have too much problem with that," Dr. Zagano said.
Does that open the possibility of exploring women becoming deacons? The new pope on Thursday used the phrase "building bridges," which gives them hope.
"He wants the church to be a collaborative, welcoming church," said Sister Mary Ann Cashin of Sisters of St. Joseph.
"American women do have a sense of call in the church and in society, and I don't believe that that has been as used as it should be so far," said Sister Phyllis Esposito of Sisters of St. Joseph.
