What Is It About This Pope?

Are you awed as I have been by the respect, adulation and attention afforded Pope Francis during his short visit to the U.S.? I am also likely not the only lapsed Catholic with a renewed interest in what a pope has to say and teach us. I can’t help observing what it is about Francis that commands this kind of a following; surely there are lessons here for any who aspire to leadership. Here is my sense of what distinguishes Pope Francis as an exceptional leader:

Values and conviction: Clearly as the head of Catholicism Pope Francis adheres to that institution’s embedded values. There’s something more here in his tone, manner and behaviors however that reflect the strength of his personal values and convictions.

Authenticity: I know, an overused word that has unfortunately been cheapened, but Francis seems to be the real deal. His entire life mirrors the values that he represents. He has spent the bulk of his life ministering to the poor, sick and disenfranchised; news commentators on several occasions have remarked how he “walks the talk.”

Symbolism: Pope Francis has eschewed traditional papal pomp. He chose to

live in more simple accommodations than the Vatican palace; his vehicle of choice during his time in D.C. was a modest Fiat; he wears a simple wooden cross instead of the traditional  golden one, and prefers simple black loafers to a pope’s fancy red slippers. Of course symbolism would be hollow or worse without authenticity.

Humility: There is no ego here. Francis is “keeping the main thing the main thing:” his pastoral role to nearly 1.5 billion Catholics worldwide. There is no pride or puffery on display, not even a hint of them while addressing our joint Congress. It’s not about him or projecting an image, but performing the job he has been called to do with a humble spirit.

Strength: Strength is not the opposite of humility, and this Pope projects both. Reforming the Curia and Vatican Bank, questioning calcified doctrine, and taking controversial stands on global warming, excesses of capitalism and sexual preferences requires courage. Pope Francis doesn’t seem to have problems speaking truth to power.

Dialog: I didn’t count, but Francis must have used the word “dialog” a dozen

times or more in his joint address to Congress. He recognizes and respects that others differ with his point of view, and accurately observes that many of governments’ and the world’s problems stem from inabilities to engage in dialog. It was encouraging to see both sides of Congress stand and applaud when Pope Francis talked about the necessity of more dialog and how it opens new possibilities; I hope that the Pope’s message has an impact on their capability to dialog in the public’s interest.

Justice and stewardship: When Francis speaks of the environment, the disenfranchised or oppressed, a recurring theme is to adopt a broader, more inclusive perspective; we are reminded that we live in community. Our fruits are not ours alone; we reap what others have sowed before and around us, just as others around and after us will reap what we sow. We won’t make it until we all make it.

Vision: Here’s another overused but vital concept. Strong leaders are like magnets; we want to be around them and to go where they’re going. Much of that magnetism stems from qualities already mentioned; the magnetism is amplified when a leader is able to paint a compelling picture of where we’re headed.

We don’t hear this talked about much in classical leadership theories, but perhaps above all or in way of summary Pope Francis and his leadership is about – love of self, love for each other and love for the world; that’s a pretty neat vision.