Pope Leo XIV may have broken a historic barrier by becoming the first pontiff from the United States, but his views on the Catholic Church could harken back to more traditional times. There are also some areas of the church's doctrine where he takes a more progressive stance, similar to his predecessor, Pope Francis.

Here are some of the challenges that Leo will face as he takes up the mantle of Pope. The world will be watching to see whether he follows in the footsteps of Francis—or shifts the course of the Catholic community’s priorities as drastically as his predecessor did.

One of the most significant powers the Pope possesses is the ability to excommunicate individuals from the Church.