Emotional Intelligence in Public Leadership: Inspiration from Pope Francis

Have you ever imagined a world leader with millions of followers preferring to stay in an embassy rather than a luxury hotel? Pope Francis, the supreme leader of Catholics, has answered that question, proving that true leadership is not always synonymous with luxury.
In the increasingly complex dynamics of leadership, the success of a leader is no longer based solely on intellectual intelligence (IQ) but also the extent to which a leader is able to understand and manage these increasingly complex social dynamics. This is where emotional intelligence (EQ) becomes very important in recognizing, understanding, and managing the emotions of oneself and others, emotional intelligence (EQ) helps leaders create policy management that is inclusive, responsive, and builds public trust.

The concept of emotional intelligence was first introduced in the early 1990s by Peter Salovey and John Mayer, and later popularized by Daniel Goleman through his book entitled Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ (1995). Goleman explains the five main components of emotional intelligence, namely self-awareness (the ability to recognize and understand one's own emotions), self-control (the ability to manage emotions, especially when in difficult situations), internal motivation (the drive from within to achieve goals), empathy (the ability to understand and feel the emotions of others), and social skills (the ability to build social relationships well). These five aspects are interconnected to create successful leadership.

Pope Francis is an example of how EQ can be applied in leadership. Since his election as the supreme leader of Catholics around the world in 2013 until the end of his life, he has been known as a leader who emphasizes simplicity, empathy, and openness.

Many examples can be shown of how Pope Francis' leadership applies the five components of emotional intelligence. During his reign he made regular visits to prisons, refugee camps, and hospitals, demonstrating his ability to genuinely feel the suffering of others by listening to and speaking directly with those on the margins. Pope Francis also openly acknowledges his limitations in leadership, and this sincerity reinforces his legitimacy as a trustworthy moral leader. How he has dealt with harsh criticism from both inside and outside the Church by taking a dialog and reconciliation approach.

Pope Francis during his tenure also carried out various internal reforms of the Catholic Church, to increase transparency and accountability in the Vatican. Reported from BBC News He dismissed the entire Vatican financial regulatory board to combat money laundering and prevent the financing of terrorism. On September 3-6, 2024, Pope Francis made an apostolic visit to Indonesia. During the visit, he visited the Istiqlal Mosque and Jakarta Cathedral Church, as well as presiding over a Mass at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium attended by more than 80,000 Indonesian Catholics. This visit is a clear symbol of the efforts and endeavors he has made to implement religious tolerance and interfaith harmony in the world.

Learning from figures like Pope Francis, we can understand that empathy, self-control, and social skills can strengthen the moral and social legitimacy of a leader. In this context, emotional intelligence can determine the success or failure of a leader, both at the national and local levels. Leaders with high EQ tend to be more able to deal with conflicts with a constructive dialog approach, and can also read the situation in the middle of the social dynamics that occur and respond with feelings of empathy,

In this digital era, there are also many people who are critical and active in voicing opinions. When leaders fail to read public emotions, it can trigger distrust and even social protests against leaders. However, leaders who are able to manage emotional relationships with the public through empathy, openness, and willingness to listen will find it easier to gain support and policy legitimacy. If Indonesian leaders slowly begin to emulate Pope Francis in applying emotional intelligence, it is not impossible that we will witness the birth of policies that are more inclusive and rooted in the people's conscience. Are we ready to build the future of Indonesia with leadership that is not only intellectually intelligent, but also sensitive to the hearts of the people?