Pope Leo XIV: The Vatican’s go-to program manager for organizational change?

When most people think of the papacy, project management probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But after today’s announcement elevating Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost (now Pope Leo XIV), you might want to think again.

Before his elevation to Pope, Cardinal Prevost played a critical role in implementing key reforms under Pope Francis’s agenda, managing what can best be described as a global portfolio of leadership transformation projects.

During his tenure, Pope Francis entrusted Cardinal Prevost with overseeing a portfolio of structural and cultural changes in how the Catholic Church selects and prepares its leaders. In many ways, he served as During his tenure as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, Cardinal Prevost played a critical role in implementing key reforms under Pope Francis’s agenda, managing what can best be described as a global portfolio of leadership transformation projects.

Here are just a few of the strategic initiatives he led:

🔄 Overhaul of Bishop Selection Processes

As head of the Dicastery for Bishops, Cardinal Prevost led organizational redesign efforts focused on the appointment of bishops. His reforms prioritized pastoral qualities, humility, and missionary zeal—a sharp turn away from the traditional, hierarchical selection model. This was more than policy; it was a full-scale strategic process redesign.

📜 Implementation of Vos Estis Lux Mundi

Cardinal Prevost helped implement Pope Francis’s framework for episcopal accountability. Vos Estis Lux Mundi (2019) established legal norms for reporting and investigating bishops accused of abuse or misconduct. In effect, Prevost became the execution lead for one of the Church’s most sensitive and far-reaching governance reforms.

🎓 Bishop Training and Leadership Development

Recognizing the need for stronger leadership capacity, he also spearheaded efforts to modernize bishop formation programs. These initiatives emphasized pastoral leadership, cultural awareness, and synodal governance—making this initiative look a lot like a learning and development project in the corporate world.

A Proven Change Leader

No, Pope Leo XIV doesn’t hold a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. But his record shows clear expertise in program execution, change leadership, and organizational governance. He was, in every practical sense, managing a portfolio of global, high-stakes projects within one of the world’s oldest institutions.

Final Thoughts

The election of Pope Leo XIV marks not only a continuation of Pope Francis’s reform vision—it also highlights a growing acceptance that strategic project management skills are increasingly important at the executive level of many different organizations.

Even in the heart of tradition, transformation needs a plan.