As one pontificate ends and another begins, what is the next chapter for the Catholic Church?
Traditionally, most popes have been diocesan priests and bishops, not members of religious orders.
Yet the papacy is now shifting from a Jesuit tradition to an Augustinian one, offering continuity in the pastoral church.
Put simply, the Jesuits are known for discernment, global missionary work, and working with the marginalised.
The Augustinians - rooted in the teachings of St Augustine - focus on community, humility, and the search for truth through grace.
In 2013, the prospect of a Jesuit from Latin America becoming pope was not envisaged and few expected that Francis' successor would be an Augustinian from America.
The speed and the potential geographical impact of the recent conclave is now being examined by Vatican watchers.
Considering that 133 cardinals from 70 countries around the world were able to agree on one man so swiftly was an achievement.
The strength of support will empower the new Pope, who is expected to take on the reforms that Francis began.
However, the task ahead is significant.
Despite progress under Francis, the sexual abuse scandal has continued to erode trust in the Catholic Church.
Pope Leo XIV will need to ensure transparency, hold bishops to account, and support survivors, particularly in regions where investigations have yet to be thorough.
Church attendance, religious vocations, and baptisms are all in steep decline in the Western world and the role of women in ministry has not progressed.
A study group, set up by Pope Francis examining women deacons, will produce a report later this year, but it is one of many on the issue, and few have resulted in reform.
The expectation is that the new Pope will continue the work of Francis in a different guise, and his name signifies this.
Leo XIV’s predecessor, Pope Leo XIII, kicked off Catholic social teaching with Rerum Novarum in 1891.
It was a commitment to workers' rights, labour rights and human rights in a time of the industrial revolution.
In a world dominated by technology and increasingly by artificial intelligence, the name-choice of the newest pontiff could reflect what he perceives to be the greatest challenges facing the world today.
He has described himself as "a bridge builder" and will likely continue the work of Pope Francis in enhancing Catholic-Muslim and Catholic Orthodox relations.
Considering ongoing global religious tensions and the need for unified responses to crises like war and persecution, that work is important.
In an age marked by division, disillusionment, and rapid change, his papacy will be challenging.
However, the fact that Robert Prevost was twice elected as Prior General of the Augustinian Order shows that his peers trusted his leadership.
Management and decision making skills gained in South America and more recently in the Vatican will be invaluable as the latest missionary pope takes up the baton.
