3 leadership lessons from Pope Francis

Last updated on: September 30, 2015 at 7:14 am by Deacon Greg Kandra

3 leadership lessons from Pope Francis 2015-09-30T07:14:33-04:00 Deacon Greg Kandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Forbes magazine gets it:

Last week the Pope visited the United States for the first time in his life, and showed off many of his wonderful leadership attributes. Here are three lessons from this extraordinary leader:

Stay Focused: the Pope’s message, over and over again, to multiple audiences is the same: Show mercy to the poor and disadvantaged. And whether he was speaking to Congress or the United Nations or anyone else, the Pope urged the United States to be more open to immigrants. He urged both America and the UN to work on the refugee crisis. And he pushed his show mercy message by endorsing the protection of the environment. He also, at one point or another, talked about slavery, the global sex trade, the sexual abuse of children by priests, and international arms deal in pursuit of profit. What do these topics have in common?

Mercy is the answer to dealing with all of these ills.

Model the Behavior: Unlike many corporate CEOs and national leaders, Pope Francis doesn’t spend any time or energy worrying about the perks of his job. He doesn’t have a corporation-paid golf club membership or a private jet. He doesn’t live in the Papal Apartment in Vatican City instead living in community with other priests at Casa Santa Marta. When he’s not on the road or meeting with foreign dignitaries, he easts his meals in the casa’s cafeteria. When he meets strangers, he immediately introduces himself, offering his hand to shake and saying, “Sono Papa Francesco,” which is Italian for “I am Pope Francis.”

Francis is leading by modeling the behavior he hopes to see all the Catholic faithful adopt: be humble. It’s much easier to be merciful when you’re humble than when you’re worrying about your limo (as America saw, the Pope rides in a Fiat).

What’s the third lesson? Head to the link to find out.

Pope

Previous Post

September 29, 2015

Lawyer says Kim Davis met with Pope Francis during his visit

Next Post

September 30, 2015 Francis Effect: A lapsed liberal Catholic writes of “how Pope Francis brought me back to the Church”

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category "Mad Men" 9/11 advent All Things New Amazing video amazing videos amazon america Anglicans Anti-Catholicism art ascension thursday ash wednesday Atheists baltimore Bible Bishops Blogging bonnie engstrom Books bridgeport Brooklyn Chaplains children christian art christmas Church Churches CNEWA Converts criticism Deacons Death Penalty easter eastern christian Eastern Christians Ecumenism Education education Eucharist Europe euthanasia Evangelization Exorcism Family Feasts Gay rights Good Friday Great links Great Moments in Journalism Hanging with the saints heather renshaw Hispanic Catholics Hispanics History homelies Homilies Humor Hymn of the Week Immigration indianapolis Inspiration Interfaith news ireland Jesus Jews Journalism Judaism lent Liturgy logos Marriage Mary Media Medical news Mental health Middle East Monks Movies Music Muslims My world and welcome to it New Evangelization new york News Nuns Parenting Parish life peoria Persecution Politics politics Pope pope francis pope john paul Prayer Preaching Priests Pro-life Quote of the day radio rebecca frech ripp Ripped from the headlines rippred from the headlines Sacraments saints Scripture sex abuse Sex abuse crisis SEX ABUSE CRISIS TAGGED WITH: SEX ABUSE CRISIS The people in the pews the visitation project theatre This & that Thomas Merton Trappists TV Uncategorized uncategorized VATICAN Vatican vocation Vocations Voices & Views Women Worth a thousand words Writing Year of Faith year of mercy young people

Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was turned into a pillar of salt?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Sarah Rachel Lot’s wife Lot

Books by This Author Books by Deacon Greg Kandra

See All Titles »