Whether you are Catholic or not, Pope Francis has your attention, doesn’t he? As Peggy Noonan pointed out in this morning’s Wall Street Journal, he is showing us a new way, from the top down, and it’s a surprise. We’re not used to seeing this kind, humble, entrepreneurial leadership at the helm of any big organization, especially one with so much tradition as the Catholic Church. He is an intrapreneurial leader, at a time when change is desperately needed. Sound familiar? Take note CEOs.
Pope Francis has even shared controversial ideas about economics in his apostolic exhortation released last week. In the WSJ, Peggy commented, “I don’t think he’s saying be a leftist but something more revolutionary and fundamental: Be a saint. Be better, kinder, more serious and loving, and help create systems that reflect good, kind, loving people.” I agree with her.
Currency of Empathy is such a system. Stewarding a “currency of empathy” is not at odds with capitalism, but will create more saints and fewer scrooges in the C-suite and beyond. It would bring us back to tradition aligned with universal human truth. I think Pope Francis might like it. I’ll write him. Hey, he’s been known to call back…
“Tradition” really means that which is so universally true that it should be carried forward from our ancestors to those who come after us. Pope Francis in his words and actions, seemingly so entrepreneurial (such a surprise), is really bringing us back to tradition. He is lifting us out of this narcissistic moment in which too often we exalt things instead of goodness and money counts more than people.
Whether we are part of his church or not, we can be inspired by this Pope.
If he can be intrapreneurial – artistic even, courageously leading to better truth – so can we.
Photo credit: www.washingtonpost.com
Beautiful! Love this piece!
Thank you!