U.S. Catholics have cause to be proud over the election of Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost as the Church’s 267th Pope, and traditional Catholics the world over have reason to be optimistic — cautiously optimistic perhaps, but optimistic nonetheless.

In the beginning there was a fear, with some cause, that he might be a clone of his predecessor, Pope Francis. After all, Francis elevated him from the priesthood to bishop, then from bishop to cardinal.

But during a private audience with the Vatican’s diplomatic corps Friday, the new pontiff emphasized the importance of the traditional Judeo-Christian view that marriage is defined as the union of one man and one woman.

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