Oh really?
There is but one universal Church of the faithful, outside which no one at all is saved. (Pope Innocent III, Fourth Lateran Council, 1215.)
We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff. (Pope Boniface VIII, the Bull Unam Sanctam, 1302.)
The most Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics, can have a share in life eternal; but that they will go into the eternal fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless before death they are joined with Her; and that so important is the unity of this ecclesiastical body that only those remaining within this unity can profit by the sacraments of the Church unto salvation, and they alone can receive an eternal recompense for their fasts, their almsgivings, their other works of Christian piety and the duties of a Christian soldier. No one, let his almsgiving be as great as it may, no one, even if he pour out his blood for the Name of Christ, can be saved, unless he remain within the bosom and the unity of the Catholic Church. (Pope Eugene IV, the Bull Cantate Domino, 1441.)
Pope Pelagius II (A.D. 578 590): Consider the fact that whoever has not been in the peace and unity of the Church cannot have the Lord. Although given over to flames and fires, they burn, or, thrown to wild beasts, they lay down their lives, there will not be (for them) that crown of faith but the punishment of faithlessness. Such a one can be slain, he cannot be crowned. [If] slain outside the Church, he cannot attain the rewards of the Church. (Denzinger 246-247)
Pope Saint Gregory the Great (A.D. 590 604): Now the holy Church universal proclaims that God cannot be truly worshipped saving within herself, asserting that all they that are without her shall never be saved. (Moralia)
Pope Leo XII (A.D. 1823 1829): We profess that there is no salvation outside the Church. For the Church is the pillar and ground of the truth. With reference to those words Augustine says: `If any man be outside the Church he will be excluded from the number of sons, and will not have God for Father since he has not the Church for mother.' (Encyclical, Ubi Primum)
Pope Gregory XVI (A.D. 1831 1846): It is not possible to worship God truly except in Her; all who are outside Her will not be saved. (Encyclical, Summo Jugiter)
Pope Leo XIII (A.D. 1878 1903): This is our last lesson to you; receive it, engrave it in your minds, all of you: by Gods commandment salvation is to be found nowhere but in the Church. (Encyclical, Annum Ingressi Sumus)
All of those quotes? They are to be interpreted in the light of three spiritual facts:
This has always been our implicit belief from the beginning.
People who read a string of quotes without a Catholic framework, will not get a Catholic understanding.
If you want a short, clear cut through the philosophical definitions, you should check the Catechism, m'kay?
Or get it from me, I don't mind a bit!
P.S. Everything hose popes said is true, under the understood conditions. I'd venture that most people who aren't visibly, institutionally subjects of the Roman Pontiff are excusable on grounds of ignorance.
I, personally, could not be excused because I know He wants me to use all the graces and blessings of being taught, governed, and sanctified by His Holy Church, and I thank Him for it.
But for those who do not know this, "They know not what they do." And Jesus didn't pray "So, Father, damn them." He prayed "Father, forgive them."
The current teaching of the Catholic Church is that all who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church.
So if I may, let me make the same point in 2 simple sentences:
I have sometimes volleyed back and forth with non-believers who dared me, or baited me, to say the Catholic Church would consign them to hell. They seemingly wanted me to say (or "admit") that I (we) consider them damned.
This I won't and can't do, knowing that God ardently wills their salvation, and yours, and mine.
One must trust in Jesus when you perceive Him near, like the thief. Love Him and love our neighbor, as Jesus said: all the Laws and all of the Prophets depend on this. On this, too, depends all the teachings of the Church and all practices of our Faith.
I hope that makes it both cordial and clear?
Now I am going off to enjoy a birthday brownie. Wish I could give you one!