MILWAUKEE — Hours after the death of Pope Francis and as the Catholic Church began the potentially weeks-long process of electing a new pontiff, Marquette University's Father Ryan Duns, an assistant professor of theology, reflected on his life and legacy.

"Like many Jesuits, like many priests, it's a mixture of grief and gratitude," Father Duns said. "Grief at the loss of a fellow Christian, a fellow Jesuit — one of my Jesuit brothers— but also a sense of great gratitude for the life, witness and leadership for the life Pope Francis exhibited for 13 years."

Father Duns added the death of Pope Francis, who'd served as head of the Catholic Church for more than a decade, will have a profound impact on many students on campus as he'd been pontiff for the vast majority of their lives.

"Our students at Marquette University are invited to embrace the skill of discernment so well lived by the Holy Father for so long," Father Duns said, "that they will get to see the Holy Spirit in action as we come to understand the needs of the global church and the way the Holy Spirit will inspire the Congregation of Cardinals to choose the leader who will lead us for the next however many years."

Watch the full interview above.