"Humanity is greatly diminished whenever the unborn, or the undocumented, the unemployed, the unhealthy are excluded," Cardinal Blase Cupich said.

Matthew Gamboa, a 15-year-old who attends St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois, said he was inspired by the Pope’s encouragement to be “a beacon of light,” even though he might be only a high schooler.

Chicago’s elation over the hometown boy’s election led to a huge party for the first U.S. pope, who will begin to chart his historic path.