Completly following Scripture
IF any pope followed Christ the Savior they would NEVER allow themselves to be called 'holy father'. Peter never called himself 'holy father'... them traditions made up by setting up a key cutting shop are night and day different than the 'keys' by which Peter established the 'body of Christ' the Church.
John in Revelation says there are seven churches, I guess that just won't play in the chant of being the first only oldest mother church. That thief hanging beside Christ never confessed to any mortal he had direct access to Christ as does each and every individual.... There is nothing Biblical about the need to confess to any flesh being ones sins for forgiveness of sin... Only 'hailing Mary' counting beads came long after Peter's walk in the flesh on this earth...
The Catholic Church does not own Christ... Christ owns all of us and there is no required sprinkling of water to have direct access to the greatest Gift ever given.
What does that word 'grace' literally mean? Nobody earns 'grace'.
Completly (sic) following Scripture
I'd have to have a little more context before making a judgment. Is he saying you cannot have Christ without being a part of the Church (the worldwide body of believers, saved by grace through faith, irrespective of denominational association); or you cannot have Christ without being a part of the Roman Catholic church?
If the first, I whole-heartedly agree: once you belong to Christ you are a part of the Church, the Bride of Christ. You are part of the Church by virtue of your relationship with Christ, and cannot have Christ living in your heart without being a part of the Church.
If the second, then I agree that the Pope is very far off base. I hope this is not the case, because I think the Catholic Church needs a leader who is more knowledgeable of the Bible than that statement would indicate.
"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"----John 11:26.
Jesus said it, and yes, I do believe it. THAT is Scripture.
You and Francis are wrong.