in my VIEW New book on
in my VIEW New book on Pope Francis has life lessons for us all In a newer book out by Chris Lowney (Loyola Press, 2013), the former Jesuit seminarian turned investment banker analyzes the new Pope’s leadership qualities against not only his personal style, but his formation in the Society of the Jesuits. Unlike the slew of immediate biographies on the new Pope, Lowney dives into the Spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius to help shed light on Jose Bergoglio’s life as a seminarian, priest, Bishop, Cardinal and ultimately Pope. From this analysis, Lowney extracts six principles put forth in seemingly contradictory pairs that are as good a set of guideposts for life and leadership as I have come across. First, know yourself deeply, but live to serve others. Then, immerse yourself in the world but withdraw from it daily. Finally, live in the present and revere tradition, but create the future. Whether Christian or not, a believer or agnostic, of faith or without God, Lowney says that one of the paradoxes of great leadership is that it is profoundly spiritual. In a highly personal credo written before his ordination during an “intense spiritual experience,” Bergoglio wrote in part that: “First, I am flawed … [but] … I am a good and gifted person. I believe in God’s patience, welcoming, good like a summer night … I believe in Mary, my mother, who loves me and will never forget me. I believe in wanting to love much … I believe that others are good and that I ought to love them without fear, never betraying them in order to seek my own security. I am called to offer my gifts, to play a unique role, to lead. I believe in my own life history, which was pierced by God’s look of love, and … leading me to an encounter in order to invite me to follow him.” To have begun such a statement with the simple acknowledgement of his own flaws is at the core of who this new Pope is and why he leads the way he Michael G. Sarafa SPECIAL TO THE CHALDEAN NEWS leads. “Flawed yet called” as Lowney put it. Because of this profound self-knowledge, it is easy for this man to shun the trappings of power, not as a gimmick or in a spirit of false humility, but as a genuine expression of his priorities and his relationship to God and people. In this context, one can see why it is natural for him to perform the traditional washing of the feet on a young Muslim woman. It is not difficult to see why he chooses to live in a Vatican apartment building of the Papal quarters. Thusly, it is not difficult to follow him; but it is also difficult to ignore his pronouncements — two essential ingredients of leadership — to get people to listen and follow. As Pope Francis has said in one of the simplest yet most powerful statements of his papacy, “authentic power is service.” Lowney explains that Pope Francis continues to intrigue the world. “good leaders see farther … that they feel called to transcend themselves and serve a greater mission than self-interest alone.” Whether in business, politics or religion, history is replete with poor and great leaders. The concept of transcending one’s self is not confined to just spiritual leaders. This is the great genius of Lowney’s book. It is at once an aware if unique biography of our Pope, a leadership manual for those that aspire or feel called to lead, and a guide to greater self-awareness and personal happiness. It makes a good read and would be a great gift. Maybe this Christmas find some time to “withdraw” from the hustle and bustle of the holidays and enjoy the opportunity to better understand Pope Francis and maybe yourself. Michael Sarafa is president of the Bank of Michigan and a co-publisher of the Chaldean News. Transfer Your High Rate Balances Free of Charge! 1.99% Fixed Annual Percentage Rate* No Balance Transfer Fee! HILLER’S CLUB Your NEW Hiller’s Rewards Program Sign up today and instantly receive IN REWARDS! It’s our way of saying thank you for being a Hiller’s customer. You can get your card at any Hiller’s and register it at www.hillers.com/club Main Office Coleman A. Young Clawson Financial 1480 E. Jefferson Ave. Municipal Center 625 N. Main Detroit, MI 48207 2 Woodward Ave. Ste. 118 Clawson, MI 48017 313-568-5000 Detroit, MI 48226 248-435-0950 313-202-9388 “We Believe in You” www.dmcu.com *Advertised rate is for the first six months on credit card balance transfers. There is no balance transfer fee that will be applied to your line of credit. A VISA balance from a DMCU VISA does not qualify for the 1.99% APR promotional balance transfer rate. New purchases will have the regular VISA 9.9%, 12.9%, 16.9% or 18.9% APR. Please contact us for the details of this limited time offer. 8 CHALDEAN NEWS DECEMBER 2013
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