A Papal Lesson in Staying on Message

We often think of religious leaders as being somewhat out of touch with mainstream, modern society. The higher up they are, it seems, the more distant they may appear from the mechanisms that make everyday life work.

That’s why it’s been especially refreshing for this communicator to see Pope Leo, the first American pontiff in history, demonstrate such a facility in using the news media to his strategic advantage.

Since his pontificate was announced in May 2025, Leo has been a messenger of peace. He has visited Africa and the Middle East to encourage war-torn countries to seek harmony. And he has spoken out against aggression around the world, from Russia’s incursion into Ukraine to America’s recent attacks on Iran.

What strikes me is the pope’s particular gift for not getting drawn into controversy or choosing sides, instead staying focused on the outcome he believes aligns with the church’s teachings and values. He doesn’t point fingers at one party or the other; instead, he urges all involved to work toward a peaceful conclusion.

The 267th pope also has a distinctly humble and approachable communication style. He’s plain-spoken and often addresses audiences in multiple languages to maximize his opportunities for personal connection. He’s been spotted wearing Nikes under his papal robes, and in his recent encyclical on reining in artificial intelligence he even quoted the wizard Gandalf from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings.”

As a result, Leo’s credibility has surged around the world and especially here in the U.S., where his approval numbers are nearly twice that of the America president.

CEOs and other leaders should take some important lessons from the pope’s communications playbook: be yourself, stay on message, and don’t allow others to define your narrative.

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Truth Advisors LLC provides strategic communications and reputation management counsel to companies facing seismic change. For a free, no-obligation assessment of how we can level up your organization’s strategic communications efforts, contact us at info@startwithtruth.com.