What does a pope actually do? Beyond the ceremonial trappings and media spotlight, how should we measure the effectiveness of the Church's supreme leader? In this episode, Father Wolf takes us on a thought-provoking journey into the heart of papal leadership, offering seven essential dimensions that define authentic spiritual governance.

The pope must first be a genuine Christian whose life conforms to Christ's example. The demanding responsibilities of institutional leadership can easily overwhelm spiritual priorities, making this seemingly simple requirement a profound challenge. "The more pressing the decisions about sustaining the church, the easier it is to give up the harder work of listening faithfully to Christ's presence," Father Wolf explains.

Moving beyond personal spirituality, the pope must effectively listen to the Church's diverse voices while contextualizing what he hears within salvation history. This storytelling function helps believers understand current challenges as chapters in God's ongoing work rather than unprecedented crises. 

Perhaps most courageously, authentic papal leadership requires admitting failure when it occurs. While papal infallibility applies narrowly to teaching on faith and morals, the broader workings of Church administration remain subject to human error.

Father Wolf concludes that the pope's attentiveness to the Spirit's movement constitutes his greatest gift – balancing the Church's essential continuity with openness to divine innovation. 

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Father Don Wolf is a priest of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Living Catholic also broadcasts on Oklahoma Catholic Radio several times per week, with new episodes airing every Sunday.