Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Pope Francis Urges Christians Not to Try to Convert Nonbelievers
Breitbart ^ | January 18, 2023 | Thomas D. Williams

Posted on 01/18/2023 4:40:11 PM PST by ebb tide

Pope Francis Urges Christians Not to Try to Convert Nonbelievers

ROME — Pope Francis said Wednesday that trying to convince someone to become a Christian is a “pagan” activity unworthy of followers of Christ.

“To evangelize is not to proselytize,” the pope told crowds gathered in the Vatican for his weekly general audience. “To proselytize is something pagan, it is neither religious nor evangelical.”

This is not about proselytism, as I said, so that others become ‘one of us’ – no, this is not Christian,” he reiterated. “It is about loving so that they might be happy children of God.”

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, proselytizing means “to try to persuade someone to change their religious or political beliefs or way of living to your own.”

Proselytism — or the attempt to convert others to one’s faith — is different from evangelization, the pope has proposed, which is the joyful witness of one’s experience of Christ.

“You know your contemporaries, you know that many are alone, that many do not know Jesus,” Francis told young people gathered for a national Catholic youth conference in 2019. “Go, go and bring the Lord, go and fill your environments, even the digital, but not of convictions, not to convince, not to proselytize, but to witness to the tenderness and mercy of Jesus.”

(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; Theology
KEYWORDS: antipope; apostatepope; frankenchurch
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-27 next last
Bergoglio will never die a missionary martyr's death.

Saints Isacc Jogues and Companions pray for him.

1 posted on 01/18/2023 4:40:11 PM PST by ebb tide
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Al Hitan; Fedora; irishjuggler; Jaded; kalee; markomalley; miele man; Mrs. Don-o; ...

Ping


2 posted on 01/18/2023 4:41:02 PM PST by ebb tide
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ebb tide

The Anti-Pope.


3 posted on 01/18/2023 4:41:52 PM PST by ought-six (Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ebb tide

He’s a clown with evil intentions who destroyed the Catholic Church for generations.


4 posted on 01/18/2023 4:42:52 PM PST by Vision (Woke is communism and it has no place in America. Election Reform Now! Obama is an evildoer.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

NWO heretic


5 posted on 01/18/2023 4:45:06 PM PST by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ebb tide

Francis has gone beyond being a mere commie pope. He’s now talking like he’s lost his mind.

As a side note, it’s interesting that Francis waited until Benedict died before speaking out against converting.


6 posted on 01/18/2023 4:51:34 PM PST by Leaning Right (The steal is real.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ought-six

After reading Mark 16:15 - could we say anti Christ?


7 posted on 01/18/2023 4:51:53 PM PST by ResistorSister (Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. I Cor. 16:13)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: ResistorSister

Yes and with conviction.


8 posted on 01/18/2023 4:54:30 PM PST by BipolarBob (The rumor has not been confirmed until the FBI officially denies it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Leaning Right

RE: He’s gone beyond being a mere commie pope. He’s now talking like he’s lost his mind.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////
Here’s what I said on another thread today:

Dr.David Anders (evangelical who converted to Catholicism and now is an expert on technical theological matters, asked:

“If any Pope becomes mentally addled and refuses to resign, due to dementia for example, is there any group in the Vatican who can demand he step down?”

The answer: “No. There is no group of any kind that can cause a reluctant Pope to step down.


9 posted on 01/18/2023 4:58:58 PM PST by frank ballenger (You have summoned up a thundercloud. You're gonna hear from me. Anthem by Leonard Cohen)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: ebb tide

Someone needs to hang that dope on the end of a rope.


10 posted on 01/18/2023 5:01:37 PM PST by dadgum (Overjoyed to be the Pariah.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ebb tide

These are the days when one hears the Pope speak, and most listeners immediately think: “Ignore and Delete”.


11 posted on 01/18/2023 5:01:38 PM PST by lee martell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ebb tide
Just saw that Breitbart posted a similar story back in December 2019. See link below...

Pope Francis tells Christians not to try to convert nonbelievers"

12 posted on 01/18/2023 5:04:15 PM PST by ResistorSister (Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. I Cor. 16:13)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ebb tide

ANTI pope.


13 posted on 01/18/2023 5:04:35 PM PST by GrumpyOldGuy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ebb tide

He’s proselytizing. Send ‘m packing.

Back in the old days the good Lord would strike ‘em dumb.


14 posted on 01/18/2023 5:09:31 PM PST by aspasia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ebb tide

From the dictionary:

Prosylatize: to convert or attempt to convert (someone) from one religion, belief, or opinion to another.

Evangelize: to convert or attempt to convert someone to Christianity.

I don’t see any difference in English. Is there a difference in whatever language he was speaking that didn’t quite get translated?


15 posted on 01/18/2023 5:09:41 PM PST by Southside_Chicago_Republican (The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ebb tide

The endtimes false Prophet.


16 posted on 01/18/2023 5:13:52 PM PST by Revel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: frank ballenger

> There is no group of any kind that can cause a reluctant Pope to step down. <

Benedict was 85 when he resigned. In doing so, he set a good example for future popes to follow. Francis is now 86. So much for that good example.

Some folks just love power too much, I guess.


17 posted on 01/18/2023 5:15:25 PM PST by Leaning Right (The steal is real.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: ebb tide

“All power is given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, unto all nations (people groups), baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have command you, and Lo, I will be with you, even unto the ends of the earth.”

The risen Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:18-20


18 posted on 01/18/2023 5:19:05 PM PST by Srednik (Polyglot. Overeducated. Redeemed by Christ. Anticommunist from the womb.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ebb tide

Hi.

I apologize up front...

Know Islam, no peace. No Islam, know peace.

You can proclaim that Jesus is Lord, but you can’t make anyone believe that. They have to find out for themselves.

Jesus doesn’t do the sword thing... well, I don’t know about later...

5.56mm


19 posted on 01/18/2023 5:20:09 PM PST by M Kehoe (Quid Pro Joe and the Ho got to go.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Leaning Right

No, he has made remarks against proselytizing before, just maybe not so clear. No tithe from our family for this guy. Only prayers for his conversion to Christianity.


20 posted on 01/18/2023 5:33:25 PM PST by married21 (As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-27 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson