In light of the just concluded U.S. presidential election, Pope Francis talked about leadership during mass at the Vatican on Tuesday, warning that such leadership can be marred by people's desire for power and money.
"Jesus taught us that he who commands must become like one who serves. Or, if one wants to be first, he must be the servant of all," he said at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican, according to the Catholic News Agency.
"And this desire for power is not the way to becoming a servant of the Lord; in fact, it is an obstacle, one of these obstacles we prayed to the Lord to remove from us," he added.
The pope said only the presence of Jesus can change the world's values. Hence, to become a true leader, one must draw closer to Jesus. "The Lord has told us that no servant can have two masters. One either serves God or serves money," he said.
Another obstacle that leaders face in their relationship with Christ is treachery or disloyalty. This happens, the pope said, when people want to serve the Lord but get distracted by the things of the world. He calls this a "double game," which people must repent of.
"Play right and left, play God and even play in the world, no? And this is an obstacle," he said.
When people play the "double game," they risk their peace in the search for power, money, and all sorts of "worldly vanities." But when people serve God above all else, they experience freedom like no other.
"And when we serve the Lord in freedom, we feel that deeper peace yet, right?" he said. "The voice of the Lord: 'Oh, come, come, come, good and faithful servant.'"
