Leading across boundaries: The conclave

What can we learn from the recent papal conclave, which resulted in the election of Pope Leo XIV?

Let me start by saying I’m not thinking about religion. I’m thinking about leadership lessons from a recent event many of us paid close attention to.

The conclave was notable for its diversity, with 133 cardinal-electors participating from 71 countries, making it the most internationally representative papal election to date. Though the group was surely not perfectly representative of the faithful, the cardinals reflected a wide diversity of thought on topics including the application of doctrine to societal issues such as LGBTQ and inclusion, clerical celibacy, women’s roles in the church, and responses to climate change and migration.

Just before the conclave began, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the 91-year-old Dean of the College of Cardinals, stated: “The unity of the church is willed by Christ; a unity that does not mean uniformity, but a firm and profound communion in diversity, provided that full fidelity to the Gospel is maintained.”

And the next day, the new Pope was elected, in one of the shortest conclaves in modern history.

The way that a large and diverse group of cardinals was able to come to agreement so quickly offers lessons we all might benefit from learning as we seek to lead across boundaries and divides in our own organizations.

• Constructive engagement is critical: All 133 cardinals set aside unadulterated time to meet and talk about this fundamentally important topic. They sealed themselves in a room, fully committed to constructive engagement across their differences to make a decision that would have a dramatic impact on the direction of their institution.
• Decision-making and participation in it, should be taken seriously: Over centuries, cardinals have invested in and constantly upheld the sanctity of the discussion in that room; each cardinal is bound by a strict and perpetual oath of secrecy, the violation of which leads to excommunication. This commitment created the conditions for every participant to be free to say anything and get the full benefit of the range of perspectives and experiences in the room.
• Move on united: The free and complete airing of views, followed by a structured voting process to reach a decision, allowed them to leave the room aligned and able to lead effectively as a group, standing behind their choice of a leader for their next era.

About the author

Jeremy Hanson (jhanson@heidrick.com) is a partner in Heidrick & Struggles' Chicago office and a member of the global CEO & Board of Directors Practice.