A Leader’s Responsibility

On every team there are natural leaders. Men and women who have been given gifts that are conducive to leading others in a positive and successful direction. Leaders shape and form vision and purpose, often get the majority of the fame and the shame. Leaders often get the most press, the most praise and the most criticism. Leaders enjoy privileges and opportunities that others may not have. Leaders on a football team are the driving force and shape the success of a team.

I was taught that with much power, comes even great responsibility. So is this truth portrayed and implored in the Pope’s recent letter to newly-elected President Obama:

THE HONORABLE BARACK OBAMA

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON, DC

ON THE OCCASION OF YOUR INAUGURATION AS THE FORTY-FOURTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA I OFFER CORDIAL GOOD WISHES, TOGETHER WITH THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS THAT ALMIGHTY GOD WILL GRANT YOU UNFAILING WISDOM AND STRENGTH IN THE EXERCISE OF YOUR HIGH RESPONSIBILITIES. UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP MAY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CONTINUE TO FIND IN THEIR IMPRESSIVE RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL HERITAGE THE SPIRITUAL VALUES AND ETHICAL PRINCIPLES NEEDED TO COOPERATE IN THE BUILDING OF A TRULY JUST AND FREE SOCIETY, MARKED BY RESPECT FOR THE DIGNITY, EQUALITY AND RIGHTS OF EACH OF ITS MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY THE POOR, THE OUTCAST AND THOSE WHO HAVE NO VOICE. AT A TIME WHEN SO MANY OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD YEARN FOR LIBERATION FROM THE SCOURGE OF POVERTY, HUNGER AND VIOLENCE, I PRAY THAT YOU WILL BE CONFIRMED IN YOUR RESOLVE TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING, COOPERATION AND PEACE AMONG THE NATIONS, SO THAT ALL MAY SHARE IN THE BANQUET OF LIFE WHICH GOD WILLS TO SET FOR THE WHOLE HUMAN FAMILY (cf. Isaiah 25:6-7). UPON YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, AND UPON ALL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, I WILLINGLY INVOKE THE LORD’S BLESSINGS OF JOY AND PEACE

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI  (ONE)

Fitting and appropriate that the Pope would remind President Obama to not only look after the needs of our nation (while they are great and numerous) but America’s responsibility to the world as a nation that has the means and ability to make a marked difference in restoration of the poor and a hand to prevent violence and oppression. Leaders have the responsibility to look out for and help those that cannot look after themselves or who are suffering persecution at the hands of an oppressor. As America deals with its own issues of economy, the environment and ethics, we must also change the way we view the rest of the world. We must seek to reach out and restore those who are poor, starving and in need in our world. That is what a leader does.