photo courtesy of Malacañang Photo Bureau
With his recent passing, Pope Francis is now being lauded as “The People’s Pope.” His legacy will be one of deep compassion and a call to service for people of all faiths.
This time of change reminds me of one of my favorite parables – Moishe and the pope. Over a century ago, the pope declared that all Jewish people had to convert or be forced to leave Rome, sparking outrage among the Jewish community. In response, the pope struck a deal – he would have a religious debate with a designee from the Jewish community and if this designee won, they could stay. Because of the stakes, no one from the Jewish community volunteered, so they ultimately asked Moishe, an old man who had very little to risk. He only asked for one condition – that neither side could talk. Moishe spent his life as a janitor and believed actions spoke louder than words. The pope agreed.
When the day came for the debate. Moishe and the pope sat across from each other for a full minute of silence, and then the pope raised his hand and showed three fingers. Moishe in return raised one finger. The pope waved his hand in a circular fashion over his head, and Moishe pointed to the ground. The pope pulled out a communion wafer and a glass of wine, and Moishe pulled out an apple. The pope stood up and declared, “I give up – this man is too good. The Jews can stay in Rome.”
Later, back at the Vatican, the pope was surrounded by his cardinals and gave his explanation. “First, I held up three fingers to represent the Holy Trinity, and he responded with one finger to remind us that we still have one God in common. Second, I waved my hand above my head to show that God was above us and all around, and he responded with pointing to the ground to point out that God was also right here with us. Finally, I brought out the wafer and wine to show that God absolves us of our sins, and he responded with bringing out an apple that represents original sin. He had an answer for everything – what could I do?”
After the debate, the Jewish community celebrated Moishe for achieving the impossible and asked how he did it. “First, the pope said that the Jews had three days to get out of Rome. I replied that not one of us was leaving. Second, he told me that all the Jews must be cleared of the entire city. I replied that we were staying right here. Finally, he took out his lunch, so I decided to take out mine.”
We come from different backgrounds and far-flung places, but our shared humanity binds us together. This parable reminds us that, during times of change, we can seek compromise and build on our commonality rather than being divided by our differences.
Pope Francis, through his example, carried this message of unity to the world. He brought new energy to some of the Catholic Church’s deeply held traditions. Whether you are Catholic or not, his efforts to create change are a good case study for the social sector on how we can lead change management initiatives in our own organizations. Here are just a few of the ways we can learn from his example.
His Vision Represented Even the Least of Those Among Us
One reason Pope Francis was so successful at building urgency around a new vision for the church is that the vision he articulated never felt like it was his alone, but rather one that represented many voices. He was known for living simply, using public transportation and living among his fellow priests. By keeping lines of communication open with his constituents, the pontiff used his platform to amplify issues like poverty and climate change.
Since becoming pope in 2013, Pope Francis was so consistent in elevating the voices of the marginalized that the public and the media could often predict his message. This is a hallmark of strong change management – when a leader’s vision becomes widely shared and echoed. Today, in his passing, his calls for compassion are being repeated around the world.
He Preached on Many Mounts
One of the most important steps in any change management initiative is spreading the message to everyone who will be impacted, and Pope Francis excelled at this. Instead of remaining tucked away in an ivory tower, he went out to the people, spreading his message and presenting his call to action – even on his final day, he also followed best practices for any strong communications plan, including:
- Identifying internal and external stakeholders who need to be informed
- Tailoring messages to each audience
- Setting clear timelines for communications
- Holding space for individual conversations, especially for those most affected
Pope Francis made numerous strategic visits and dedicated time at the pulpit to emphasize that the world and the Church could not remain the same. He was also effective at tailoring his message to increase relevancy for his specific audiences. For example, in his speech at World Youth Day, he urged young people to speak out when needed, but to remember why they speak rather than speaking out in order to be seen as a “superstar.”
Even on his final Easter Sunday, his message was about faith, peace and love for one another: “On this day, I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves, or who come from distant lands, bringing unfamiliar customs, ways of life and ideas! For all of us are children of God!”
He Modeled the Way Through the Narrow Gate
To sustain the changes we hope to make in our organizations, we have to anchor them in the organization’s culture and make decisions consistent with our ideals, even when they are tough. Pope Francis made major strides in reshaping the Catholic Church by doing just that. In response to the refugee crisis, the pope not only urged other nations to take families in, but he also dedicated space at the Vatican to house families fleeing violence. As the leader of the church, he didn’t just speak about the change he wanted – he embodied it. He made difficult decisions rooted in his values, and those decisions influenced others. As leaders in the social sector, we would do well to follow suit: be the change we wish to see.
Pope Francis remained humble and grateful to the end – a man who understood the power of presence, service and love. He often asked others to pray for him, and his last words were “Thank you for bringing me back to the Square” to his nurse. Now his legacy lives on – through his words and deeds. The Church, and its future direction, has been forever shaped by his leadership. If you have been inspired by his grassroots efforts or if his leadership has prompted changes in your own organizations, please share your stories with us.
