Pope's letter to non-believers in Italian paper La Repubblica

Vatican Radio ^ | September 11, 2013

[NYer]

(Vatican Radio) Does God forgive non-believers? Does absolute truth exist? And is God merely a creation of the human mind?
In a lengthy letter to the former editor of the Italian daily ‘La Repubblica’, Eugenio Scalfari, Pope Francis shares reflections on these three questions and urges all non-believers to engage with Christians in an open and sincere conversation.

Listen to Philippa Hitchen's report:

In the letter published on Wednesday, the Pope laments the impasse that has grown up over the centuries with those who see Christianity as ‘dark and superstitious,’ in opposition to the ‘light of reason’.
Quoting from the recent encyclical ‘Lumen Fidei’, the Pope stresses that, on the contrary, faith must never be intransigent or arrogant, but rather humble and able to grow in relationship with others.


Responding to the three questions posed by the Italian journalist and writer, the Pope says the key issue for non-believers is that of “obeying their consciences” when faced with choices of good or evil. God’s mercy, he stresses, “has no limits” for those who seek him with a sincere and contrite heart.


Reflecting on the question of absolute truth, Pope Francis says he prefers to describe the truth in terms of a dynamic relationship between each Christian and Jesus, who said, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life’. The truth of God’s love, the Pope insists, is not subjective, but it is only experienced and expressed as a journey, a living relationship with each one of us, in our different social and cultural contexts.


Thirdly, Pope Francis considers the question of God as a creation of the human mind, who will thus disappear when human beings cease to exist on earth. In my experience, he says - and in that of so many other Christians past and present – God is not merely an idea but is a “Reality” of infinite goodness and mercy, revealed to us through his son, Jesus of Nazareth.


Reflecting on the originality of the Christian faith in relations to other religions, the Pope stresses the role of Jesus who renders us all sons and daughters of God, therefore also brothers and sisters to each other. Our arduous task, he says, is that of communicating God’s love to all, not in a superior way, but rather through service to all people especially those on the margins of our societies.


Finally the Pope spoke of his deep respect and friendship for people of Jewish faith – especially those with whom he worked so closely in his native Argentina. Reflecting on the terrible experience of the Shoah, he said, we can never be grateful enough to the Jews who maintained their faith in God, thus teaching us too to remain always open to his infinite love.

[NYer]

Ping!

[svcw]

Of course God forgives non believers, otherwise they could never become believers.

When he says “non believers” what does he mean?

[SkyPilot]

Pope Francis assures sceptics: You don’t have to believe in God to go to heaven

"Given – and this is the fundamental thing – that God's mercy has no limits, if He is approached with a sincere and repentant heart," the pope wrote, "the question for those who do not believe in God is to abide by their own conscience. There is sin, also for those who have no faith, in going against one's conscience. Listening to it and abiding by it means making up one's mind about what is good and evil."

Wow.

Just wow.

[ebb tide]

“Reflecting on the terrible experience of the Shoah, he said, we can never be grateful enough to the Jews who maintained their faith in God, thus teaching us too to remain always open to his infinite love.”

Interesting. So the heretical “dual covenant” hypothesis is alive and kicking. Didn’t the apostles give up their lives attempting to convert both Jews and Gentiles to Christianity?

[Up Yours Marxists]

Well Mr. Bergoglio, you obviously either don't know your Bible very well or you're trying to rewrite God's Word!

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. - John 14:6

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. - Romans 10:9

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16

It's a good thing you're not the pope or anything... (...sheesh).

[metmom]

"Given – and this is the fundamental thing – that God's mercy has no limits, if He is approached with a sincere and repentant heart," the pope wrote, "the question for those who do not believe in God is to abide by their own conscience. There is sin, also for those who have no faith, in going against one's conscience. Listening to it and abiding by it means making up one's mind about what is good and evil."

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

God will not grant blanket forgiveness to those who don't want it. You have to confess and repent. And you have to believe that God IS.

If you don't believe that God is, then you are not going to be confessing anything.

[svcw]

Agreed
Wow, does not say enough.

[svcw]

What does the fellow mean by this?
Really you don’t have to beleive in God?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/pope-francis-assures-sceptics-you-dont-have-to-believe-in-god-to-go-to-heaven-8810062.html

[svcw]

Needs to be repeated:

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. - John 14:6

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. - Romans 10:9

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16

[ebb tide]

“Of course God forgives non believers, otherwise they could never become believers.”

You bet they do! They become believers once they’re in Hell. One problem: it’s too late.

[.45 Long Colt]

This man is the ultimate deceiver!

The Roman Catholic Church Is not a Christian Church
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=5110614627

Pope Francis Shows His True Colors
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owK8PsaoItk&feature=youtu.be

Antichrist - The Historic Protestant View
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=112801223644

“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” (Rev 18:4)

[Uri’el-2012]

Is Francis "Peter the Roman" ??

Is he the last pope ??

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach

[terycarl]

God will not grant blanket forgiveness to those who don't want it. You have to confess and repent. And you have to believe that God IS. If you don't believe that God is, then you are not going to be confessing anything.

nonsense....there have been hundreds of millions of people that have lived on this Earth who hed no conception of what God was....good people, honest people, people who loved each other and their families.....do you really suppose that an all loving God would condemn them to hell......pathetic!

[terycarl]

The Roman Catholic Church Is not a Christian Church

thanks for coming along 2,013 years after the fact and bringing us all up to date.....actually the Catholic church is the ONLY complete Christian church on Earth.....always has been, always will be....Christ said I will be with you until the end of time. I'll buy that....and the Catholics were the only Christian group on Earth at the time.....the only ones.

[GeronL]

The word Catholic was invented centuries later, so that would be impossible. Christ had followers all over the old world when the establishment in Rome came about. Those were not “Catholic”.

New Testament churches are much more Christian than a bureaucratic organization that is based on performing rites and rituals and worshipping more than 10,000 unbiblical “Saints”.

There is one person we can pray to in order to reach God and that is Jesus. Not Peter, Paul or Mary, not the Pope.

[Salvation]

The One true Church and how to recognize it.

Use this guideline as a measure...

*It was founded by Jesus Christ Himself in Mt 16:18.
*It would be built on Simon Peter, Mt 16:18.
*It would be defended by GOD Himself, Mt 16:18-19.
*It would have authority given by Jesus Christ, Mt 16:19,18:17-18.
*It would be guided by the Holy Spirit who will dwell within it, Jn 14:15-17, Act 15:28,16:6.
*It would be one and undivided, Mk 3:24-25.
*It would have one fold and one shepherd, Jn 10:16.
*It would have Priests, Bishops, and Deacons, 1Tim 3:1-13.
*It must have the Holy Eucharist celebration, Jn 6:42-70, Act 2:42.
*It must be found in all nations, Mt 28:19.
*It must be found in all centuries, Mt 28:20.
*Jesus Christ said He would be with His Church every day, in every year, until the end of the world,   Mt 28:20. (This means no gaps in time.)

[bramps]

You are talking about two different things and you probably know it. The pope is talking about people with a complete conception of God who still chose to ignore him and follow their OWN conscience, which makes them their own god. But the pope and apparently you think that’s just ducky.

...what an ugly word ‘pathetic’ is. To use it in an accusing fashion under false circumstances is truly pathe...ahhh, forget it.

[bramps]

These comments make this pope seem like a clueless teenager.

[Salvation]

What about the case of the Good Thief. He was a non-believer, but rebuked the other thief and only asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus entered his Kingdom.