Mr President, ignore the discontent, public anger at your peril

Fifty years ago, one of my all time favourite movies was released. Anthony Quinn starred in The Shoes of The Fisherman, an epic story of a former political prisoner from Ukraine who was unexpectedly elected as Pontiff when the incumbent died suddenly. Pope Kiril proceeded to introduce a brand new style of humble, servant leadership that ruffled the feathers of the stuffy, ecclesiastical, clerical culture in the Vatican.

After spending many years in detention he was determined to not become a prisoner in the Vatican. So to ensure that he was in constant touch with the needs and aspirations of his flock, he would escape by night incognito into the Roman streets and engage with the street people, the hawkers and the common folk. As a result of this encounter, he acquired the courage to sell the Church’s treasures and give the proceeds to famine relief pretty much in the tradition of the fisherman from Galilee.