The Francis Effect

1. A New Style of Leadership The Francis Effect

2. A leader • Prepares people for the future • Builds a learning and discerning community • Makes meaning in a time of transition • Has a vision that inspires, builds community and gives a sense of mission

3. His enormous appeal • A normal, simple pastoral priest • “He is interested in people and their good. The world still looks for goodness, for kindness and common sense.” W. Grimm • Merciful and not self-referential/serving • Pastoral care takes priority over all else

4. Evangelii Gaudium • His “I have a dream speech”. • The statement of a free man – freeing us to dream • Revealing himself.

5. A Pope who wants to talk with us • He is a pope who is not afraid of actual conversation, real questions and talk of human frailty. • His style is deeply pastoral and encouraging. He is comfortable with being fallible and is not at all defensive. • He models the virtues he attributes to Mary. “In her we see that humility and tenderness are not virtues of the weak but of the strong who need not treat others poorly in order to feel important themselves.” #288

6. A leader who can live with responsibility and ambiguity The defining aspect of this change of epoch is that things are no longer in their place. Our previous ways of explaining the world and relationships, good and bad, no longer appears to work. The way in which we locate ourselves in history has changed. Things we thought would never happen, or that we never thought we would see, we are experiencing now, and we dare not even imagine the future. That which appeared normal to us – family, the Church, society and the world – will probably no longer seem that way. We cannot simply wait for what we are experiencing to pass, under the illusion that things will return to being how they were before. To priests of Rome September 2103

7. A leader who doesn’t have to control everything • "It is not advisable for the pope to take the place of local bishops in the discernment of every issue which arises in their territory. In this sense, I am conscious of the need to promote a sound 'decentralization.’" #16 • The Pope emphasises the Episcopal Conference #32 but he also wants the Church “to listen to everyone”. #31 • This will involve new level of faith, spirituality, skills and structures

8. An inspiring Vision rather than a critique • An attractive & joyful face • Gaudium et Spes pilgrim or seeker • Church is normally critical of the modern world • But all cultures are places to encounter God and ambiguous as well • Befriend • Positive and critical - discerning

9. A spiritual, redeemed leader who still needs to be evangelised • Evangelii Gaudium reads as the compassionate and merciful reflections of a sinner who is confident that he has been forgiven. • He argues that we need to experience Jesus’ compassion in a wonderful personal way so as to go out to the world and especially the poor with mercy and compassion. • We do not possess God or all God’s activity. • Pope Francis encourages us to dialogue with the world, with the State, with the sciences and with people of other faiths. #238-258 • We have much to learn as well as to give.

10. A leader • Prepares people for the future • Builds a learning and discerning community • Makes meaning in a time of transition • Has a vision that inspires, builds community and gives a sense of mission

11. Questions for reflection • What do you find most attractive about Pope Francis’ leadership? • What can you learn?