The challenges awaiting Leo XIV

How the cardinals say, the successor of Pedro, not Francisco. However, the new Pope, the American Robert Prevost, who chose the name Leo XIV on Thursday, will have to experience various issues that the Argentinian Pontiff has opened. So what are the challenges that this new pope should be confronted with?

Unity

In these 12 years of pontificate, and although the cardinals do not want to admit it, a church is divided into two wings, a moderate and other more conservative, very critical with the openings of Francisco. Trying to unite the different positions will be strategic and continue on the path of synodality, to build a church in which everyone has a voice, although many do not like.

Finance

It is one of the topics that were most tackled in the congregations of preparatory cardinals of the conclave. Among the revolutions of Francisco is that of the finances of Vatican, with a transparency work, especially in the IOR (the Vatican Bank). But the new pope will have to tackle the problem of empty treasure chest, with an authentic review review, because donations to the church have fallen considerably.

Sexual abuse

Although Francisco has left different rules to combat sexual abuse in the church, there is still a lot to do and victims of victims ask for the application of these laws in the dioceses, greater transparency in Vatican management and in processes and especially faster judgments and investigations.

The participation of women

With Pope Francis, the option of the priesthood of women was almost categorically closed, but also the possibility of the female diaconate, some tasks that all the men of the layman, for example, have occupied, and this is seen as a way to block a greater participation of women’s life.

The possible female diaconate, along with a greater presence of women in dominant positions, will be a different challenge, because many Catholic groups will not surrender to their requests.

The appointment of Simona Brambilla in January 2025 as a prefect or ‘minister’ of Dicastery for the dedicated life and the societies of apostolic life, all religious orders depend, rather than a cardinal as it was until then, it was something that many of the Kerkhierarchs did not like.

Blessings for homosexual couples

If a document has created divisions within the Catholic Church, it was the ‘Fiducia Supplicans’, the text published by the Congregation for the doctrine of the belief in which it could be blessed for couples that are considered ‘irregular’ to the church, including those of the same sex.

The African Church was contrary to this document and asked Pope Francis for an explanation. The next pope will have to respond to the bishops of one of the continents where Catholicism continues to grow.

China and vs.

At the diplomatic level, the agreement that was signed with China during the pontificate of Jorge Bergoglio to agree on the appointment of the bishops and was renewed, considered a milestone for the approach between the two countries that have no diplomatic relations and protect Catholics.

However, many in the Catholic Church do not accept that Beijing has a voice in the election of a bishop, and especially the US government, who at the time also criticized the dialogue with China.

The relationship with the US and with his current president, Donald Trump, will be one of the diplomatic challenges to tackle because Francisco and his State Secretary Pietro Parolin clearly made their distance in matters such as anti -migrant policy and cuts on international cooperation.

It will be interesting to see how Trump’s relationship will be with his countryman.