The Power of Doubt (in a Certain World)
Lessons from the late Pope Francis on embracing doubt as a way forward
I’m a lapsed ‘cradle Catholic,’ my original faith long-since corroded by disgust at the sins of The Church (particularly turning a blind eye to pedophilia in its ranks) and disappointment at what appears to be bone-headed resistance to acknowledging the realities of much of its flock (most especially – women!). So it is with some surprise to myself that I’m riveted by the impending conclave to select the next pope, which starts tomorrow. I suppose it has something to do with the State of the World, what currently passes for ‘leadership’ on the global stage, and how the dearly departed Pope Francis led in such a sharply contrasting manner to other dominant world leaders. He led with doubt as a foundational value. Why do I find that so riveting?
I’ve recently re-watched two films focused on the Papacy: The Two Popes (from 2019) and Conclave (from 2024). Both films – each riveting in its own way - surfaced the complex realities of the modern Catholic Church: its inescapable intertwinement with Western history, its creation and reflection of cultural and societal norms (which, for example, place women very much in the shadows), its devotion to The Ideal delivered by fallible humans. One of my key takeaways from each film is the tug between certainty and doubt that is at the heart of the Catholic faith and a central struggle in the path forward for the Church – and, indeed, the world. Certainty is represented by the conservative ‘old guard,’ who want to keep the Church rooted in its rigid traditions, a stance as much practical as ideological; upsetting the status quo is a threat to entrenched interests. So these entrenched interests promote certainty (focused on ideology, doctrine, practice and ‘selective amnesia’ that serve their interests) and dissuade doubt, because doubt leads to questions leads to ‘a-ha!’s leads to new ideas leads to standing up for equality and rights leads to ... upsetting the status quo. Dangerous! Best to keep the status quo dominant by squelching doubt and pesky questions, by reinforcing certainty.
I can see why certainty can be seductive. It can provide a sense of comfort that all is as it should be. It can lead to a sense of assurance that by following these rules, you will be on the right path, and your future will be secured. It’s a mindset that explains why so many leadership books and articles promise some version of ‘The 7 Steps to Success,’ the fervor of many parents that their child get top marks (sleep and enjoyment be damned) and be accepted into the Ivy League, the plea I sometimes hear from coaching clients to help them master the steps to get from A to B (B being ‘successful outcome’), as if there is some particular formula for that. Which there usually isn’t. It’s a mindset that explains why so many opt to toe the line of tyrannical leaders, rather than admit to (and voice) doubts, protest questionable decisions, or display alternative behaviors.
Doubt is risky. It’s scary. It can be alienating, especially when the status quo is dominant and threatening. Sometimes, though, doubt cannot be denied. Sometimes that doubting voice inside will not let up until it finds its way outside. Sometimes, that is liberating! Even as it is terrifying. Because sometimes there is no going back to the false assurances of certainty, as seductive as those may be.
Doubt comes in varying flavors and intensities and can be acted on as such. You can have doubt about your child’s ability to ride a bike with little practice, but bite your tongue and then watch in amazement as they soar (or crash, and then keep your tongue bitten and get out the bandaids). You can doubt your chances at landing that head of school job, because they’ve never hired a female in that role before, but continue to project the leader you know yourself to be and trust that the outcome will reward that. You can encourage your students and faculty to start any intellectual – or human - inquiry from a basis of doubt, and then ask the questions to lead them to greater understanding, perhaps even to a wholly different approach to some hitherto unquestioned ‘certainty.’ You can listen to that voice inside you that is saying something is not right here and pay heed to it – even if no one else is expressing any concern.
As the late Pope Francis said: “We do not need to be afraid of questions and doubts because they are the beginning of a path of knowledge and going deeper; one who does not ask questions cannot progress either in knowledge or in faith.”
I know which side of this equation I hope the Church finds itself when that white smoke emerges from the Vatican. I hope that will be a signal to the world that doubt is really the only way forward, even as certainty beckons with its false and exclusionary promises.
If you find yourself in a doubt-full situation and would like an active listener to help you spin through questions and scenarios, call on me! I’ll keep you far from the path of certainty, which means entertaining a whole field of other enticing possibilities. Though not one that ends with you as Pope (sorry, Trump!).
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Oh, and by the way, here’s another great quote from the late Pope Francis: “Love makes us similar, it creates equality, it breaks down walls and eliminates distances.” I wish I could invite him to be a guest speaker at the upcoming Sidecar Summit on Love-Based Leadership (Portugal, November 17-21, 2025). But I can’t because a) he’s not a woman, and b) he’s now in the Heavenly realms. That leaves an extra space for YOU. And if you act before May 15 you can save that space at the early bird rate, a savings of $200. Here’s a link to learn more and register.
Yours in doubting our way to ‘success,’
Bridget
