Yet, the reality is that most of us have very limited influence over who leads us. I am not a Cardinal. I have no ties to the Church of England. And in Australia I’m choosing between two political leaders I had no role in selecting.
On a smaller scale, schools are appointing new principals and companies are hiring new CEOs. When this process occurs a consultancy firm is often engaged to gather opinions from stakeholders. But when we are asked to describe our ideal leader, our hopes can often be idealistic, even unrealistic — does such a person even exist?
If I were to choose someone I would willingly follow, I would choose a leader who understands me. Who cares for me. Who inspires me with a vision of hope. I wouldn't follow someone disconnected from my reality. I would follow someone who, as the saying goes, "smells like sheep."
Obituaries for Pope Francis repeatedly affirm that he was a shepherd who 'smelled of the sheep’, a man of the people. His way was deeply shaped by spending time with people, listening, caring, and seeking to respond well. Shepherds who smell of the sheep wrestle with the complexity and pain of living in a broken world, lamenting God’s apparent absence while clinging to hopeful promises.
Following the recent passing of Pope Francis, an image circulated widely — a younger Francis riding the train among ordinary people. Thousands commented that the image captured the essence of the man: a leader interested in people, not position. Even in death, he remained true to this spirit, choosing to be buried outside the Holy City with a simple grave marked by just one word: Franciscus.
Contrast this with our political leaders: flipping sausages for the cameras, sitting awkwardly on stools at day care centres, or telling carefully curated stories about their humble beginnings. One of the common criticisms levelled at politicians is that they are 'out of touch' with the everyday person.
Over the weekend, I watched the film Conclave (2024). It offered a fascinating glimpse into the process of electing a new pope, but even more so, it offered an insight into human nature. In tradition, the ideal candidate for pope is not meant to want the role. Their reluctance serves as a test of humility and alignment with the Church's values. Ideal candidates should respond to their possible election with, "No, no, not me, please not me."
Yet words can be deceiving. In one poignant scene, a reluctant candidate, Laurence, is confronted by a confidant: "Come on Laurence, you can't honestly tell me that you, like every other cardinal, have never secretly chosen the name you would use if elected pope?"
Laurence hesitates. If he denies it, he lies. If he admits it, his heart is exposed. After a long pause, he quietly whispers, "John".
The human heart is flawed. Even when we say the right things, if we're honest, many of us crave power and influence — if not for the money, for affirmation, recognition, and a sense that our lives matter.
The greatest leaders are not immune to these temptations; they simply fight harder to resist them. Pope Francis, humble as he was, surely faced these battles daily. As a Jesuit priest, he had vowed poverty, chastity, and obedience — a sharp contrast to the grandeur of the Vatican.
The leaders worth following are those who continually set aside self-interest to serve others. They forgo the trappings of their position to live among the people they lead.
For a school principal, it looks like doing bus duty in the afternoon, teaching a Year 9 class, quietly picking up litter, or setting out chairs for assembly — not because anyone is watching, but because they care.
For a politician, it looks like volunteering weekly at a soup kitchen without cameras, shopping at the local supermarket, and flying economy — because they remember who they represent.
For a pope, it means choosing a gold-plated ring over a solid gold one, living in a small apartment rather than a palace, and giving away most of their income to the poor — because the Lord Jesus did.
These leaders know that no man or woman should consider themselves greater than another. From dust we came, to dust we will return.
These leaders smell like sheep.
