"It remains unclear whether and how Coakley and Flores will work together - their profiles differ significantly," Faggioli told the Catholic News Agency (KNA) on Wednesday.
Both embody different cultures within American Catholicism that are difficult to reconcile, he said.
"This election exemplifies the cultural and political tensions within the US Church," Faggioli continued. Coakley is considered a representative of a conservative wing that has met Pope Francis with scepticism in the past. Flores, on the other hand, is in favour of a more socially oriented course and is particularly committed to migrants.
The Archbishop of Oklahoma City, Paul Stagg Coakley, prevailed over Bishop Daniel Flores from Brownsville by 128 votes to 109 at the autumn general assembly of the US bishops on Tuesday.
Flores was subsequently elected Vice President.