Iam the CEO of nothing except my own life–and even then… I have ten kids that I attempt
to direct onto heavenly paths but then leave the rest to God.
Books on leadership in business are not on
my shelves. Yet, I have found meaning in The
Pope & The CEO: John Paul II’s Pope John Paul II’s Leadership
Lessons to a Young Swiss Guard by
Adreas Widmer. He was a mere guard—although guarding the very
vicar of Christ—at the time he learned these lessons. They have
served him well, not because they were lessons for corporate America,
but because they are lessons for authentic Catholic living.
my shelves. Yet, I have found meaning in The
Pope & The CEO: John Paul II’s Pope John Paul II’s Leadership
Lessons to a Young Swiss Guard by
Adreas Widmer. He was a mere guard—although guarding the very
vicar of Christ—at the time he learned these lessons. They have
served him well, not because they were lessons for corporate America,
but because they are lessons for authentic Catholic living.
So
amid laundry piles and washing floors; negotiating with and
leading children, I have learned
that JPII’s lessons are less about rising to the top of corporate
America and more about rising all the way to the very top–heaven.
amid laundry piles and washing floors; negotiating with and
leading children, I have learned
that JPII’s lessons are less about rising to the top of corporate
America and more about rising all the way to the very top–heaven.
Widmer
credits the experience of guarding the Pope while working for two
years as a Swiss guard with helping him to integrate his Catholic faith as a corporate executive and CEO. His
compelling story is one of discovery of what is means to be human and
integrate faith into all aspects of life.
credits the experience of guarding the Pope while working for two
years as a Swiss guard with helping him to integrate his Catholic faith as a corporate executive and CEO. His
compelling story is one of discovery of what is means to be human and
integrate faith into all aspects of life.
Widmer’s Lessons From JPII
My
life is my vocation. It
is about listening to God’s promptings. His plan for me is unique and
infinitely better than my own. “Before I formed you in the
womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to
the nations I appointed you.” Jeremiah 1:5
life is my vocation. It
is about listening to God’s promptings. His plan for me is unique and
infinitely better than my own. “Before I formed you in the
womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to
the nations I appointed you.” Jeremiah 1:5
My
life is not random or accidental; it is arranged. John Paul used to say that nothing is
a coincidence. “On May 13 of that year, while greeting pilgrims
in St. Peter’s Square, John Paul was shot at close range by the
Turkish assassin. He credited his narrow escape from death to the
intercession of the Virgin Mary….On that day, sixty-four years
before, Mary predicted the fall of godless Communism in Russia. John
Paul saw no coincidence in that. Instead, he saw the assassination
attempt and his recovery as a sign. That sign, understood through
prayer, clarified his vision and made him more resolute in his stand
against communism.”
life is not random or accidental; it is arranged. John Paul used to say that nothing is
a coincidence. “On May 13 of that year, while greeting pilgrims
in St. Peter’s Square, John Paul was shot at close range by the
Turkish assassin. He credited his narrow escape from death to the
intercession of the Virgin Mary….On that day, sixty-four years
before, Mary predicted the fall of godless Communism in Russia. John
Paul saw no coincidence in that. Instead, he saw the assassination
attempt and his recovery as a sign. That sign, understood through
prayer, clarified his vision and made him more resolute in his stand
against communism.”
 |
| Widmer with JPII |
Don’t
settle and don’t give up. As John Paul would say, “Don’t
ever settle for anything less than the spiritual and moral greatness
the grace of God makes possible in your life. You’ll fail; we all
do. But that’s no reason to lower the bar of expectation.” Widmer says that JPII often told us to get up, seek forgiveness, be reconciled with God and keep trying.
settle and don’t give up. As John Paul would say, “Don’t
ever settle for anything less than the spiritual and moral greatness
the grace of God makes possible in your life. You’ll fail; we all
do. But that’s no reason to lower the bar of expectation.” Widmer says that JPII often told us to get up, seek forgiveness, be reconciled with God and keep trying.
The
power of God reaches us through prayer. “I once overheard John Paul II say that prayer
is a learned ability, something anyone can do if he only try. In
other words, prayer is not an activity solely reserved for mystics
and saints or priests and nuns. It’s also not something to do just
on Sundays or before meals. It’s something for everyone, at any
time.”
power of God reaches us through prayer. “I once overheard John Paul II say that prayer
is a learned ability, something anyone can do if he only try. In
other words, prayer is not an activity solely reserved for mystics
and saints or priests and nuns. It’s also not something to do just
on Sundays or before meals. It’s something for everyone, at any
time.”
Know
what is right. “…approach both life and work as John Paul II
did, with a clear moral framework, a system of ethics that can serve
as a compass, consistently pointing you in the right direction
regardless of what circumstances or challenges you face. “
what is right. “…approach both life and work as John Paul II
did, with a clear moral framework, a system of ethics that can serve
as a compass, consistently pointing you in the right direction
regardless of what circumstances or challenges you face. “
Plan
for the future but live in the present. “A strong leader always
knows where he’s going. He sees ahead. Like John Paul II, he also
needs to know where he is. He needs to see what’s right in front of
him….You need to know where you’re going and why you’re going
there.”
for the future but live in the present. “A strong leader always
knows where he’s going. He sees ahead. Like John Paul II, he also
needs to know where he is. He needs to see what’s right in front of
him….You need to know where you’re going and why you’re going
there.”
Respect
each individual. “John Paul II never looked at people in
general. He looked at people in particular. He saw faces and stories
and all that goes into making each human person unique. He also saw
Christ in every person. He saw the mark of God, who made man in his
image, became man in order to save him, and destined man for an
eternity with him. What John Paul II saw was each person’s innate
human dignity.
each individual. “John Paul II never looked at people in
general. He looked at people in particular. He saw faces and stories
and all that goes into making each human person unique. He also saw
Christ in every person. He saw the mark of God, who made man in his
image, became man in order to save him, and destined man for an
eternity with him. What John Paul II saw was each person’s innate
human dignity.
So
he acted accordingly.”
he acted accordingly.”
Live
a balanced life, all things in moderation. “During my time at
the Vatican, I saw how well John Paul II balanced the demands of his
papacy with the people and activities he most enjoyed.”
a balanced life, all things in moderation. “During my time at
the Vatican, I saw how well John Paul II balanced the demands of his
papacy with the people and activities he most enjoyed.”
Live
with humility and detachment and see meaning in suffering. “What
set John Paul II apart… was that he never tried to hide his
suffering. He wasn’t ashamed of it. He didn’t think it made him
less of a man or less of a leader. He saw meaning in his pain. He
believed it had value. He wanted to share that with the world.”
with humility and detachment and see meaning in suffering. “What
set John Paul II apart… was that he never tried to hide his
suffering. He wasn’t ashamed of it. He didn’t think it made him
less of a man or less of a leader. He saw meaning in his pain. He
believed it had value. He wanted to share that with the world.”
As
of the canonization of JPII and John XXII on Divine Mercy Sunday, we
can use the title “saint” before their names. Our Popes are not
so removed from us, and they are even closer to us now than JPII was to
Widmer while he was a guard. The saints are with us as we
journey this earth and their lessons lead us closer to Christ.
of the canonization of JPII and John XXII on Divine Mercy Sunday, we
can use the title “saint” before their names. Our Popes are not
so removed from us, and they are even closer to us now than JPII was to
Widmer while he was a guard. The saints are with us as we
journey this earth and their lessons lead us closer to Christ.
For
more info on this book check out Andreas Widmer’s website, which can
be found here: http://www.thepopeandtheceo.com/
more info on this book check out Andreas Widmer’s website, which can
be found here: http://www.thepopeandtheceo.com/
