Pope Leo XIV spent two decades working in Peru’s poorest enclave and appears to be in the mold of Pope Francis — who carried a legacy as “the people’s pope” for his outreach to those on society’s margins.

The Catholic Church has welcomed its first American pope, Pope Leo XIV, sparking global interest in how he will tackle sensitive topics like LGBTQ rights, political figures like Donald Trump, and a range of social issues.

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.