More on Leo XIV's papacy
Leadership in the nonprofit sector has always been a high-wire act—balancing mission, money, community need, and political winds. But in 2025, the winds are howling.
As we saw in the first post in this series, U.S. nonprofits are facing a surge of federal hostility. Funding cuts. Public denigration. Workforce reductions. And for some, outright threats to their operations.
In this environment, nonprofit leaders must look for new sources of clarity, encouragement, and example. One source—perhaps unexpectedly—is Rome.
Pope Leo XIV, elected earlier this year, may not have direct authority over your nonprofit, but his leadership style is highly relevant for any organization navigating uncertainty and disruption. In fact, he offers a powerful alternative to the performative, transactional leadership that so often dominates today’s discourse.
As I noted in the first post of this series, I don't write these posts as a Catholic (I'm not) or someone of faith (it's complicated). I write this because a new Pope is always a cultural marker, and today more than ever, we need to be alert to the world around us as a matter of sound risk management. Plus, with so many Catholics in the world, your team and your beneficiaries likely include many.
Let’s take a closer look at how Pope Leo XIV leads—and what that means for your nonprofit.
When Cardinal Robert Prevost was appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in 2023, he said something striking:
“We are often worried about teaching doctrine, but we risk forgetting that our first duty is to communicate the beauty and joy of knowing Jesus.”
It was a subtle but profound shift in tone. His role was to vet and select Catholic bishops around the world—arguably one of the most powerful gatekeeping positions in the Church. But his focus wasn’t on ideological purity or administrative acumen.
It was on joy. On presence. On being a pastor, not a manager. Whether someone believes in the divinity of Jesus is beside the point. Prevost was noting the obligation of leaders to connect and assist.
This same theme has defined his early papacy. Pope Leo XIV has emphasized that leadership is about closeness to the people, not control over them. It’s about humility and service, not prestige and power.
For nonprofit leaders, this message couldn’t be more timely.
In times of stress, it’s easy for nonprofit leaders to retreat into bureaucracy. We double down on policies. We track every metric. We try to “optimize.”
But that can create a dangerous drift—from mission to mechanism. From human connection to spreadsheet.
Pope Leo XIV reminds us that impact doesn’t come from distance or detachment. It comes from relationship.
He has warned Church leaders not to isolate themselves in “comfortable” positions of authority. Instead, he insists that leaders must smell like their sheep—meaning, they must live among those they serve, feel their struggles, and share their hopes.
Sound familiar?
If you’ve ever worked in direct service—whether at a shelter, clinic, food bank, or school—you know that the most effective leadership is grounded, visible, and compassionate. It’s not about delivering orders from above. It’s about walking with your team and your clients.
That’s pastoral power. And that’s the kind of leadership nonprofits need now more than ever.
There’s another side to Pope Leo XIV’s approach. It’s not all tenderness and solidarity. He also believes in accountability.
As head of the Vatican’s bishops’ office, he played a central role in enforcing Vos Estis Lux Mundi, the policy holding Catholic bishops accountable for covering up abuse. He oversaw investigations that led to resignations and reforms—even when they were politically sensitive.
In short: he didn’t flinch when it came to cleaning house.
That’s a crucial reminder for nonprofits. In a time when the sector is under increased scrutiny, integrity is not optional. It is a strategic imperative. Mismanagement, abuse, or even sloppiness can become weapons in the hands of hostile policymakers.
But accountability isn’t just about compliance. It’s also about building trust—with your board, your staff, your funders, and your community.
Pope Leo XIV’s model shows that you can be both gentle and firm. Both pastoral and principled. And that, in fact, you must be.
One of the Pope’s most consistent themes is synodality—a big word for a simple idea: leadership through listening.
Rather than making decisions behind closed doors, he favors processes that include dialogue, consultation, and shared discernment. This doesn’t mean consensus at all costs. But it does mean making space for multiple voices and perspectives.
For nonprofit leaders, this is an increasingly important skillset. In polarized times, organizations can fracture internally as staff and stakeholders disagree about how to respond to external events. Leaders who rush to impose top-down decisions may find themselves alienating their own teams.
Pope Leo XIV offers another way. Listen deeply. Act boldly. Stay humble. That rhythm can help nonprofits remain focused, flexible, and unified—especially when external conditions are chaotic.
So what does this all mean for you?
If you lead a nonprofit, or serve on a board, or support the sector in any capacity, consider this invitation from Pope Leo XIV’s example:
In a world where civil society is being politicized and nonprofits are being questioned, this kind of leadership isn’t just morally right. It’s strategically essential.
And if the Pope of 1.4 billion Catholics can model it, so can we. (For the next post in this four-part series, look here.)