Pope Francis has been seen as a breath of fresh air to some and, to others, a wall-shattering earthquake.
But all agree that he's been a consequential leader of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church.
The Economist, under the headline "The pope as a turnaround CEO," said business schools regularly teach about CEOs "who breathe new life into dying organizations," and now "Harvard Business School needs to add another case study: Jorge Bergoglio, the man who has rebranded RC Global in barely a year."
The Atlantic noted the pope's outreach, citing his meeting with "18 members of the Green family, staunch Southern Baptists and owners of the billion-dollar Hobby Lobby empire that is suing the Obama administration over the contraception mandate in [Obamacare]."
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The Sunday Mass on April 20, "The Resurrection of the Lord," from St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, will be followed by the pope's message and blessing, called "Urbi et Orbi," or "To the City and to the World."
The Easter event begins at 6:15 a.m. Eastern Time.
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On April 27, Pope Francis will canonize Pope John Paul XXIII and Pope Paul II in a ceremony in St. Peter's Square. The event is 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. Eastern.
It is estimated that up to 1 million filled St. Peter's Square and the surrounding streets in Rome when the beatification of Pope John Paul II was celebrated May 1, 2011.
Even more are expected in Rome April 27 for the canonization ceremony because more than 1 million devotees of Pope John Paul II are expected to be joined by thousands of devotees of Pope John XXIII. Born Angelo Giuseppi Roncalli, John XXIII is popularly known as "good Pope John," the 261st Bishop of Rome who convened the Second Vatican Council.
On July 5, 2013, Pope Francis approved the promulgation of a decree that paved the way for the canonization of the two popes.
Then, on his return from Rio de Janeiro July 28, 2013, Pope Francis told the Vatican press accompanying him that both popes would be canonized together.
Pope Francis explained the joint canonization would be "a message for the Church: These two were wonderful, both of them."
The Economist looked at the Catholic Church one year ago: "Pentecostal competitors were stealing market share … scandals were scaring off customers and demoralizing the sales force. Recruitment was difficult, despite the offer of lifetime employment in a tough economy. The firm's finances were also a mess. Leaked documents revealed the Vatican bank as a vortex of corruption and incompetence."
And that was just the start of the description.
Now, however, the "business has recovered a lot of its self-confidence."
"The CEO is popular: 85 percent of American Catholics – a tough audience – approve of him. Footfall in RC Global's retail outlets is rising again. The sales force now talks about a 'Francis effect.'"
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