Cardinal Robert Prevost, a U.S. citizen, is the first American pope

Cardinal Robert Prevost from Chicago was elected the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church .

Frida Ghitis: Prevost, a 69-year-old from the Augustinian religious order, had been considered a moderate candidate with solid practical skills in dealing with Vatican politics.

She says Prevost 's election seems to be one of continuity, rather than a push further left or a swing to the right.

Ghitis says it remains to see what it will mean to have an American pope.

But the reality is that whatever Prevost has done, we can’t know what kind of pope he’ll be. Few expected Francis to become the figure he became. It will take time for us to know what this choice will really mean..