Leadership isn’t about dominance and status – Pope Francis showed us a different way

Pope Francis’ chose simple shoes (instead of the traditional red papal shoes) and the name “Francis,” – referencing St. Francis of Assisi. Both are symbols of humbleness.

Most leadership models today – worldly and spiritual – do the exact opposite: not “How can I serve?” but “How can I be seen, recognized, protected, and obeyed?”

Power is used to soothe deep inner wounds – covering over fears of worthlessness, rejection, and insignificance. Leadership is less about caring for others, and more about extracting from others: respect, admiration, control, luxury, validation.

It’s important to know: Humbleness doesn’t mean poverty or self-erasure.
It means knowing you are divine – and serving others from that fullness, not from lack.

We embody both: the sovereign being and the servant spirit. Both are expressions of the same.
When we know ourselves as divinity, we naturally extend that recognition to others.

We are neither inflated in self-importance, nor enslaved to others’ needs.

We simply care – because we recognize that the same essence that is within us is within them, whether they have realized it yet or not.

The tragedy is that our culture rarely rewards this.

Often the “last” – the ones who embody the spirit of service, humbleness, and care – are overlooked, while the “first” – the ones most hungry for dominance and security – are given titles, budgets, and authority.

We mistake noise for truth.