Two 'Popes' to Speak for the World: The Pope and the United Nations Secretary General in World Politics

Abstract

This article argues that a combination of individuals in institutions leads to the evolution of the Pope and the UN’s Secretary General as instances of moral leadership. Comparing the pope and the Secretary General in terms of scope and aim of their agency and normative claims starts with the observation that their agency is influenced by institutions. If those individuals link responsibility and the agency granted by their institutions, they potentially can outgrow institutional constraints. Both individuals developed influence in terms of moral and executive leadership apart from internal constitutional foundations of their institutions and external structural constraints and demands.

Keywords: Pope, United Nations Secretary General, leadership, religion, ethics, United Nations, Catholic Church, Holy See