The Pope and the CEO: John Paul II's Leadership Lessons to a Young Swiss Guard

by Andreas Widmer 

Reviewed by Eileen Quinn Knight, Ph.D. Profiles in Catholicism

The Pope & the CEO is a guidebook for people seeking to integrate faith into all aspects of their lives. It is inspired by the example of Poe John Paul II. As the author/storyteller was in his early twenties, He was privileged to live very close to him, one of the great leaders of the 20th century. John Paul’s sincerity impressed him, both in his faith and how he brought that faith to all aspects of his life. His example had a tremendous effect on my life. This book is the effort of the writer to share the lessons he learned from his example, based primarily on his memories which later directed him in his quest to live his Catholic faith as a corporate executive and CEO.

The stories have biographical and autobiographical elements to the book. Occasional stories are not my own or are ones that I witnessed, along with the rest of the world, through the lens of the media. The book offers glimpses into the writer’s life of a Swiss Guard at the Vatican. The pages that follow are primarily intended to help the Christian executive, CEO, or small business owner to learn some key principles of successful leadership. It is the author’s hope that the head of any organization: family, school, church or association will see a ready application and will benefit from this book and its lessons. The book makes explicit all the lessons that the author had to learn the hard way, through his own failures.  It also contains the lessons Widner is still learning. Lessons that his intellect grasps but that are more easily understood in theory than lived in practice.

The Pope & The CEO is divided into nine chapters or lessons. Each contains several stories or reflections about John Paul II, as well as practical applications and a good dose of Church teaching. Widmer tries in each chapter to connect that teaching to the world of business and make it as relevant as possible to the experience of those tasked with leading a team of people, whether big or small. At the end of each chapter, you’ll find a practical exercise, prayer, or piece of wisdom to help you live out the teaching and lessons in life. The author also provides for reflection designed to help connect the lessons of the chapter to the experiences of your life. If you’re interested in learning more you i cam visit the website where you’ll find additional exercises, ideas and information on each chapter. www.thepopeandtheceo.com 

At the same website, you’ll also find recommendations for further reading on each chapter’s subject. You don’t have to be a theologian or a Scripture scholar to understand the teaching outlined in this book/ A great amount of background knowledge on the Catholic faith or John Paul II isn’t necessary, but more knowledge is almost always a good thing; if you want to go deeper into any or all of the topics raised here, the reading lists will help you do that.