The challenges that await Leo XIV

The challenges facing Leo XIV , Peter's successor, are as vast as they are complex, demanding a delicate balance between the continuation of certain reforms and the need to address new and old crises.

The pre-conclave atmosphere, marked by general congregations and gossip in traditional Roman restaurants, already outlined the profile of expectations in recent weeks. Cardinals like Reinhard Marx anticipated, as has happened, a brief conclave, but the election of the new Pope has not been without intense debate. Francis ' legacy is an unavoidable starting point. As Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chávez points out, "We cannot let the legacy that Pope Francis has left us slip away. Everyone involved speaks of continuity, but they think of someone who will live it with a distinct style and accent."

One of the main challenges will be managing internal diversity and polarization . The Church is torn between more progressive wings, represented by figures like Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich —open to discussing female ordination and sexual morality—and more conservative sectors, brought together by cardinals like Gerhard Müller, who call for "greater doctrinal clarity" and oppose profound reforms. Leo XIV must be a "reconciler," capable of building bridges and preventing "internal wars" from further fracturing the Catholic community.

Another crucial front is the reform of the Roman Curia and financial transparency . While Francis has made progress in these areas, the task is far from complete. The cardinals were looking for a leader with experience in the Vatican machinery, capable of dealing with a Curia in need of modernization and control, but without causing paralysis. The Church's credibility depends largely on Leo XIV 's ability to impose and enforce strict regulations, especially in the financial sphere.

On the global stage, the new Pontiff will face a turbulent world. Leo XIV is expected to be a champion of peace and an icon of the defense of human dignity. His geopolitical expertise will be crucial, as will his ability to continue and deepen interfaith dialogue. A particularly sensitive issue will be his relationship with the Russian Orthodox Church and Patriarch Kirill, especially in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. The new Pope's ability to navigate these turbulent waters and promote reconciliation will be closely watched.

The continuation of the synodal impulse initiated by Francis is another hot topic. Figures like Hollerich see "support for the synod's approach," but the challenge lies in how to implement this vision of a more participatory and consultative Church without diluting papal authority or generating greater doctrinal confusion.

Cardinal Giuseppe Betori summed it up best: "The perfect pope would be the combination of many of my fellow electors, but surely only one can reign." The task of the 133 electors was to find that individual capable of embodying, as far as possible, these multiple and often contradictory expectations. Leo XIV will inherit not only his simple tomb in Santa Maria Maggiore, but also the burden of guiding more than a billion faithful through one of the most challenging periods in recent history.