I cannot let the crass X post by Donald Trump - that was reposted by the official Whitehouse account on 3rd May 2025 go without comment. The irreverent AI generated image of him as a pope IS offensive to those of the Catholic faith and I reckon to many values-based people. I deliberately have not shared a copy of that image here.
However, it feels serendipitous that just days after I was exploring the 15 Leadership Diseases as described by Pope Francis (2014) [1] with a group of professionals at an RSA event in Edinburgh[2] that I find myself measuring the 47th President of the United States against these criteria.
He certainly displays the disease of rivalry and vainglory. His perks, and titles have become the primary object in life, he has forgotten the fundamental duty of leaders as Pope Francis says: “do nothing from selfishness or conceit but in humility and count others better than ourselves”
Does Trump suffer from the disease of existential schizophrenia? This is the disease of those who live a double life, those who are no longer directly “in touch” those who have lost contact with reality.
He certainly displays characteristics of the disease of gossiping, grumbling, and back-biting. Francis claims that this is a grave illness which can begin simply, perhaps even in small talk, but takes over a person, making him become a “Sower of weeds” – we need to be on our guard against the terrorism of gossip!
What about the disease of closed circles? This is where belonging to a clique becomes more powerful than any shared identity. Sometimes this disease begins with good intentions, but with the passing of time it enslaves its members and becomes a cancer which threatens the harmony of, in this instance the USA itself.
The last of the 15 diseases I want to explore in relation to Trump is the disease of extravagance and self-exhibition. This happens when a leader turns his service into power, and uses that power for material gain, or to acquire even greater power. This is the disease of persons who insatiably try to accumulate power and to this end are ready to slander, defame and discredit others; who put themselves on display to show that they are more capable than others. This disease does great harm because it leads people to justify the use of any means whatsoever to attain their goal, often in the name of justice and transparency! Is this not an almost perfect description of the current US President.
Trump operates in sharp contrast to the kind of leadership we want, the kind of leadership we need and, in many ways, the kind of leadership Francis exhibited – lead with humility, demonstrate compassion and show up for the people we serve in non-judgemental ways.
[1] The 15 Diseases of Leadership, According to Pope Francis – The Millennium Report
[2] RSA: Facing the future: education May 1st 2025 Augustine Centre, Edinburgh
