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The pope is wrong. All atheists do go to hell. The bible is pretty clear on this point.

Other than that he seems to be doing OK so far. Needs to get the homosexuals out of the ministry

Atheists who do go to hell, go there only because they resist and reject Divine Mercy until their last moment slips away. The same is true of anybody else who goes to hell: whether they be, in this life, Catholics, Shiites, Pentecostals, Jews, Evangelicals, Baptist, Buddhists, Baha'is, and even some people who were popularly thought to be saints. I never met a Calvinist who didn't think he was among the Elect --- but even there, there will be surprises. We know this. Reject Christ, Who is the Compassion of God, and you get what you wanted: an eternal existence with no compassion.

That is hell.

However. The Pope's point was, we are all commanded to do good and avoid evil, and, lo and behold, we meet each other by doing good and avoiding evil. The point of "meeting" can be the point of "conversion." Eyes are opened. Hearts are opened. The soul, under the influence of Grace, acknowledges the need for Grace. And the Good Lord enters in.

That's what Pope Francis was telling the atheists. Not that they or anybody else has a "Get Out Of Hell Free" card, but that we meet each other at the point of doing good together, and that may prepare the heart for that moment of grace.