Young Catholics have said they hope the newly elected Pope will be a role model in the Church.
Pope Leo XIV was unveiled on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica after his election on Thursday evening.
On Friday he celebrated his first Mass in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.
At St Mary's University College on Belfast's Falls Road, students welcomed the new Pope's election.
Friends Maria McClean and Ella-Beth Rooney said the fact Pope Leo XIV was an English-speaking pontiff could be important for communicating directly with other English speakers.
The said they hoped he would continue in Pope Francis's footsteps in terms of reaching out to people.
"People are looking for a Pope out in the world nowadays, someone to relate to," said Ms McClean.
"As leader of the Catholic Church you need someone who's a model, that's what we all should be aspiring to do, going out and helping," Ms Rooney said.
