News that the global Catholic church would get its first-ever U.S.-born pope was welcomed by Catholics across the ideological spectrum in Pope Leo XIV’s homeland, raising the question of whether he might be able to ease some of the deep divisions within its ranks.

From U.S. Catholics to the left of the ideological center, there is optimism that Leo will carry on Pope Francis’ outreach to poor and marginalized people, including migrants, and provide a counterweight to policies of the Trump administration that distress them. To the right, there is hope the new pope will faithfully uphold Catholic doctrine, including opposition to abortion, same-sex marriage and women’s ordination.

One reason for optimism: The new pope has made clear — in his remarks and his choice of a motto — that unity within the global church will be a paramount priority.

“In these early days, he’s still an empty vessel,” said Steven Millies, a public theology professor at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. “Until we all get to know him better, we can pour our expectations into him.”

Notre Dame Provost John McGreevy, a historian of Catholicism, said he was “completely stunned” after the papal announcement, having shared the conventional wisdom that a pope from the U.S. was a near-impossibility.

But Leo “is a global Catholic citizen,” McGreevy said, citing the pontiff’s time in Peru, at the Vatican and leading an international religious order.

“Even though he’s an American, and we’re super proud that he’s American, it’s hard to think of someone more embedded in a lot of the global church,” he said.

Relations with U.S. Catholics

It’s too soon to tell what Leo’s relationship will be with his fellow American prelates and the broader U.S. Catholic Church, McGreevy cautioned.

“The early indications are that there’ll be some similarities to Pope Francis,” he said — suggesting that differences with conservative U.S. bishops could continue.

McGreevy said he expects some tension between the Vatican and the White House over immigration and climate change, two of Francis’ key priorities that are likely to be reaffirmed by Leo.

Chad Pecknold, a professor of systematic theology at the Catholic University of America, suggested that Francis either disliked or misunderstood the United States.

“With Leo XIV, it’s clear he not only loves America, but he even loves the White Sox,” Pecknold said via email. “That can only have a good effect, not only upon American Catholics, but also American bishops, and indeed, everyone. It’s good to feel like the pope is on your side.”

During the latter years of Francis’ papacy, one of the most divisive issues among U.S. bishops was whether Catholic politicians who supported abortion rights — including then-President Joe Biden and then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — should be barred from receiving Communion.

Francis stressed he would not reject politicians who support abortion rights and Biden received Communion during a visit to Rome in 2021.

San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, who barred Pelosi from receiving Communion in the archdiocese, described Leo as a “bridge builder.”

“He will be a good force for unity in the church,” Cordileone told KPIX-TV in San Francisco. “Even with differences of opinion and different ideas of strategy and so forth, we can have unity in the church.”

The interim president of Catholics for Choice, which supports abortion rights, acknowledged that Leo opposes abortion and said the group would send him letters from Catholics who disagree with that stance.

“We are praying that he will be a pope guided by a commitment to peace, justice, and inclusion,” said Chris Wimbush. “The future of our church depends on greater inclusion and nuance on reproductive health decisions like abortion, contraception and IVF.”

Women and the church

Francis, during his papacy, took major strides to give women more senior leadership positions in the church. But he upheld the ban on female priests and tamped down hopes that women could be ordained as deacons.

The U.S.-based Women’s Ordination Conference, which advocates for women to be accepted as priests, welcomed the inclusive tone of Leo’s initial remarks.

“His clear emphasis on bridge-building and dialogue offer WOC hope that Pope Leo XIV might be a leader who will also build bridges to Catholic women,” the group’s statement said. It envisioned “a long-overdue day when women are recognized as equals in Christ.”

Some potential opposition

Millies, at the Catholic Theological Union, said the top leadership of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops — which was sometimes at odds with Francis — remains relatively conservative.

But in the ranks of bishops below them, “the change has already happened,” Millies said. “They are men who are more pastoral than focused on doctrine. The election of Leo means we are firmly in a different era.”

There was muted reaction to Leo’s election from Bishop Robert Strickland, who was ousted by Francis in 2023 from leadership of the Diocese of Tyler in Texas. Strickland had been a fierce critic of Francis and came to symbolize the polarization within the U.S. hierarchy.

In social media posts after Leo assumed the papacy, Strickland expressed hope that he would faithfully uphold the sacred Scriptures and traditions known as the Deposit of Faith.

“With the heavy weight of the papacy now on his shoulders he needs our prayers,” Strickland added.