Newly elected Pope Leo XIV hailed his predecessor Pope Francis  in a meeting of cardinals on Saturday and said he intended to follow in the late pontiff's footsteps, signalling the continuation of the late pope's relatively progressive agenda.

Leo addressed a meeting of cardinals, his first since being elected the 267th pope on Thursday.

The Chicago-born pope Robert Francis Prevost was elected in what was described as a short conclave given the large number of cardinals taking part and the diversity of their origins.

The conclave is a secret affair, but cardinals who took part told media outlets Leo won with over 100 votes, well over the 89 needed for the required two-thirds majority.

What did Leo say about Francis?

Leo praised the late Francis' dedication to the "sober simplicity of life."

"Let us take up this precious legacy and continue on the journey, inspired by the same hope that is born of faith," the pontiff said, according to a transcript of his speech to the College of Cardinals published by the Vatican.

He cited the late pope's focus on "courageous and trusting dialogue with the contemporary world in its various components and realities."

Francis' 12-year papacy often invited the criticism of conservative cardinals over what they said was his watering down of the church's doctrine on issues including LGBTQ+ Catholics and women's leadership. 

Before his election as pontiff, Leo spent most of his religious career as a missionary in Peru before Francis made him cardinal in 2023 and he served as a senior Vatican official.

Why did the pontiff choose the name Leo?

The new pope also explained why he chose Leo as his papal name, saying it was an homage to Pope Leo XIII, a 19th-century pope known for advocating social justice and fair pay for workers amid the industrial revolution.

Leo XIV argued that the Catholic Church must lead in protecting workers, particularly from threats posed by artificial intelligence. 

AI posed "new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labor," Leo said.

The new pope's two-hour meeting with the cardinals followed a new format. Instead of offering a speech and expecting the clerics to just listen, Leo opened the floor after his prepared address for comment from any cardinal. In the meeting, the attendants were allowed to voice their opinions and concerns regarding the issues facing the church.

"He listened very carefully, but he knows he's going to have to make the decisions," Irish Cardinal Sean Brady told the Reuters news agency. "But we're here to help him."

Edited by: Sean Sinico