Bob Rosen on the Leadership Lessons Offered and Lived by Pope Francis

"Isn't it ironic that the leader of an antique, conservative religion would become an icon for progressive change in the digital age? It's not often a leader catapults to the Forbes Top 10 list, especially a religious leader. We expect to see these lists filled with titans of business and politics, maybe a handful of entrepreneurs and, occasionally, a rockstar here or there.

"The phenomenon we have witnessed over the past two years is none other than the leader of the Catholic Church, the Bishop of Rome, and Sovereign of the Vatican City, Pope Francis. He's holding steady to his No. 4 position on Forbes' list of the World's Most Powerful People -- right between China's Xi Jinping and Germany's Angela Merkel.

"Pope Francis rose to his leadership position essentially unknown and untried. He was not particularly notable as a reformer in his home country of Argentina and gave little indication that he'd be any kind of change agent. He has surprised many, though, by quickly and easily moving on to the world stage and becoming not only a media darling but a social media savant as well. Francis literally touches the minds and hearts of millions of followers, every day, through direct contact on social media.

"So how does a relatively inexperienced leader in an inertia-filled organization grab the reins of change while cautiously protecting and reinvigorating the Church? By leading from his heart, and from the knowledge of who he is, Pope Francis has been able to transform himself as he adapts to new environments and to the ever-changing demands of his job. The first big, strategic decision in that job was his selection of the name Francis, in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of the environment and the poor."

In a recent commentary, Bob Rosen, founder & CEO of Healthy Companies International, reflected on how Pope Francis is "making haste slowly, changing nothing while changing everything about the Church," and, in doing so, is offering leadership lessons for those who are paying attention.

To access Mr. Rosen's complete post, please visit:

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