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| H.A.H. Pope Radislav |
LONDON 27 January 2026 (NRom)
During 2025, graduate students at the London School of Business and Finance (LSBF) had an experience few business schools anywhere in the world could claim: they were taught economics and finance by a reigning pope of an autocephalous Apostolic Church.
His Apostolic Highness the Most Holy Pope Radislav I of Rome-Ruthenia, a long-time academic and global advocate for the poor and marginalised, served as a Senior Lecturer at LSBF, teaching MBA and other postgraduate students in accounting, finance, and economics. While popes are most often associated with theology or pastoral ministry, Pope Radislav’s work in a business school reflected a deliberate and longstanding mission: to shape economic leaders grounded in ethical finance, human dignity, and social responsibility.
LSBF describes its student body as drawn from approximately 150 countries. These include many students from developing nations, ethnic minorities, and communities historically excluded from economic opportunity. For Pope Radislav, teaching in such an environment was not incidental but intentional; a part of his vocation to educate and empower those most vulnerable to exploitation within global economic systems.
In private correspondence with Pope Radislav, one student wrote: “It has been a demanding but incredibly valuable experience,” while another said, “I am truly grateful for the time and expertise you shared with me.” Still another student noted the academic depth of the experience, saying, “I have also developed as a researcher under your mentorship.” Several students emphasized the moral dimension of his teaching, with one writing to him, “Your courage and integrity are inspiring.”
His Apostolic Highness the Most Holy Pope Radislav I of Rome-Ruthenia, a long-time academic and global advocate for the poor and marginalised, served as a Senior Lecturer at LSBF, teaching MBA and other postgraduate students in accounting, finance, and economics. While popes are most often associated with theology or pastoral ministry, Pope Radislav’s work in a business school reflected a deliberate and longstanding mission: to shape economic leaders grounded in ethical finance, human dignity, and social responsibility.
LSBF describes its student body as drawn from approximately 150 countries. These include many students from developing nations, ethnic minorities, and communities historically excluded from economic opportunity. For Pope Radislav, teaching in such an environment was not incidental but intentional; a part of his vocation to educate and empower those most vulnerable to exploitation within global economic systems.
In private correspondence with Pope Radislav, one student wrote: “It has been a demanding but incredibly valuable experience,” while another said, “I am truly grateful for the time and expertise you shared with me.” Still another student noted the academic depth of the experience, saying, “I have also developed as a researcher under your mentorship.” Several students emphasized the moral dimension of his teaching, with one writing to him, “Your courage and integrity are inspiring.”
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| Click for full size image. Pope Radislav's official LSBF website faculty listing: Dr. Rutherford Johnson (also known ecclesiastically as Radislav I) is a scholar-practitioner in behavioral economics, diplomacy, and cultural systems. He holds advanced degrees from Harvard University Extension School, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the University of Kentucky, along with certifications in corporate sustainability, justice, and strategic management. Dr. Rutherford serves as senior advisor to international institutions, including consultative roles with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and participation in global summits such as the G20. He is also recognized as a foundational figure in quantum economics having developed empirically-tested models for analyzing decision behavior using wave function analytics. In parallel to his academic and policy work, he leads a sovereign ecclesiastical body, serving as the Roman Ruthenian Pope, with global responsibilities and interfaith diplomacy, humanitarian outreach, and institutional leadership. His office continues a tradition of apostolic and dynastic succession, distinct from [other autocephalous Churches] but rooted in ancient Christian heritage. |
A Pontiff and a Professor
Pope Radislav’s academic career spans decades and continents. Long before succeeding to the papacy of the United Roman-Ruthenian Church, he taught at universities and institutes around the world, often in contexts serving economically marginalized populations. Education, particularly in practical fields such as economics, has remained central to his understanding of pastoral service.
At LSBF, his stated aim was to help students take control of their own lives through ethical economic practice, challenging models of finance that prioritize profit at the expense of people. His courses emphasized transparency, accountability, and the moral responsibilities of those who manage capital in an increasingly interconnected global economy.
Administratively, his appointment was enthusiastically welcomed. In internal communications, LSBF announced: “I’m delighted to announce that Dr. Rutherford Johnson has joined us today as a Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Finance. We’re thrilled to have you on the team!” (Dr. Rutherford is the academic name under which Pope Radislav has taught in secular institutions.)
Advocacy Built on Doctrine
Consistent with his long-standing public witness, Pope Radislav is also a staunch advocate for human rights and workers’ rights, viewing fair labour practices as an essential component of ethical economics.
Within Catholic and Eastern Christian moral teaching, the exploitation of workers carries particular gravity. The tradition explicitly names depriving workers of their just wages as a sin that “cries out to heaven for vengeance.” For Pope Radislav, economic ethics cannot be credibly taught without confronting injustices affecting labour and human dignity.
During the fall of 2025, after concerns were formally raised, in writing, to senior LSBF and Global University Systems leadership — including the school rector, the CEO of Global University Systems Prof. Dr. Maurits Van Rooijen, the LSBF Managing Director Karina Kizhner, and the Dean, Dr. Shahnaz Hamid — regarding fair labour practices and human rights concerns pertaining to faculty, Pope Radislav’s teaching contract was abruptly terminated mid-semester. The termination followed shortly after these concerns were raised and was issued in the middle of an academic term without any stated cause or procedural due process — an action that would reasonably be regarded as highly unusual in the context of higher education, particularly with respect to a senior and internationally recognized religious leader. This has prompted questions regarding faculty rights, due process, and academic freedom, especially within private, for-profit institutions.
Institutional Background
The London School of Business and Finance appears to have been founded in 2003 by entrepreneur Aaron Etingen and, available information suggests, is owned by the apparently for-profit education group Global University Systems. It has grown rapidly and appears to be one of England’s largest private colleges. In 2013, LSBF was among 116 UK businesses to receive the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for achievements in international trade.
At the same time, LSBF has previously faced public scrutiny. A 2014 investigation by The Guardian reported allegations at the time from lecturers claiming that parts of the LSBF Group prioritized profits over educational quality and imposed pay cuts, while the institution denied those claims and stated that standards were being upheld. The article reported broader debates surrounding accountability and labour practices within the private higher-education sector.
LSBF has consistently maintained, in public statements and internal communications, that it meets educational and ethical standards and disputes allegations to the contrary.
A Lasting Impact
Despite the abrupt end to his formal role at LSBF, Pope Radislav’s commitment to teaching, particularly among students from disadvantaged backgrounds, remains unchanged. Those familiar with his work emphasize that education is not peripheral to his papacy, but one of its most concrete expressions.
For many students, the experience of learning finance from a pope who openly challenged unethical economic structures left a lasting impression that extends well beyond the classroom. As one student wrote in a message of thanks: “I am sincerely grateful for your continued guidance, which has been invaluable throughout this process.”
Whether in lecture halls or pastoral ministry, Pope Radislav has consistently advanced the same message: economics divorced from ethics ultimately fails the human person. For Pope Radislav, teaching economics is not separate from pastoral ministry, but one of its classic and modern expressions.
