Q: I am on Facebook, and I find it a good way to connect with family and friends. I know that some of what I read on Facebook is reliable, but some is not. Recently I read that Pope Francis said the following: “It is not necessary to believe in God to be a good person. In a way, the traditional notion of God is outdated. One can be spiritual but not religious. It is not necessary to go to church … for many, nature can be a church. Some of the best people in history did not believe in God, while some of the worst deeds were done in his name.” That strikes me as a strange quote to be coming from the pope. Can you confirm for me whether he actually said it? (Philadelphia)
A: I have never seen the quote that your Facebook friend attributes to Pope Francis and I cannot believe, in particular, he would say that “the traditional notion of God is outdated” or that “it is not necessary to go to church.”
I imagine this Facebook quote is a “gloss,” a fanciful expansion of two things that Pope Francis actually did say. In a homily in May 2013, Pope Francis told morning worshippers at the Vatican that “the Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone.” To which he added: “Even the atheists.”
Following that, in September 2013, in a letter published in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, as to whether the God of Christians can forgive unbelievers, Pope Francis wrote: “Given that … God’s mercy has no limits if he who asks for mercy does so in contrition and with a sincere heart, the issue for those who do not believe in God is in obeying their own conscience.”
Note that the pope did not say salvation is automatic: The opportunity for salvation (for anyone, including atheists) comes through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ — but to achieve that salvation, effort and sincerity of heart are required.
Although these two papal quotes were sensationalized by some in the secular media as breaking new theological ground, they were simply restatements of what is solid Catholic belief.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (No. 847), quoting the Second Vatican Council document “Lumen Gentium,” states: “Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart and, moved by his grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience — those too may attain eternal salvation.”
Questions may be sent to Father Kenneth Doyle at askfatherdoyle@gmail.com and 40 Hopewell St., Albany, N.Y. 12208.
