Mark's Thoughts: Is the Pope Catholic? In his universalism, Pope Francis is.

 

Pope Francis has a penchant for making provocative statements that often appear to contradict or call into question Roman Catholic teaching.  Speaking on Sept. 13 at an Interreligious Meeting with youth he encouraged interreligious dialogue by saying:

Yes it is okay to discuss, because every religion is a way to arrive at God.  Sort of a comparison, an example would they are sort of like different languages in order to arrive at God.  But God is God for all.  And if God is God for all, then we are all sons and daughters of God.  But my God is more important than your God.  Is that true? There is only one God and each of us is a language so to speak in order to arrive at God … Sikh, Muslim, Hindu, Christian … they are different paths.

This is an obvious statement of universalism, as it declares that different religions are all paths to the same divine truth – paths to God.  It explicitly contradicts what Christ says about himself in John 14:6 when he declares, “"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

 

The Pope’s statement contradicts Scripture and the orthodox position of the Christian Church.  However, does it contradict Roman Catholic teaching?  The answer - which may surprise many Roman Catholics - is that it does not.

 

The Vatican II document Lumen Gentium (16) states that those who “have not yet received the Gospel are related in various ways to the people of God.”  It begins by discussing the Jews as it says, “In the first place we must recall the people to whom the testament and the promises were given and from whom Christ was born according to the flesh. On account of their fathers this people remains most dear to God, for God does not repent of the gifts He makes nor of the calls He issues.” 

 

Then it goes on to say, “But the plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator. In the first place amongst these there are the Muslims, who, professing to hold the faith of Abraham, along with us adore the one and merciful God, who on the last day will judge mankind.”  This statement declares that Christians and Muslims worship the same God, as it ignores the fact that Islam denies the divinity of Jesus Christ and rejects the Holy Trinity.

 

As it moves on from Jews and Muslims, Lumen Gentium states: 

Nor is God far distant from those who in shadows and images seek the unknown God, for it is He who gives to all men life and breath and all things, and as Saviour wills that all men be saved. Those also can attain to salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience. Nor does Divine Providence deny the helps necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God and with His grace strive to live a good life.

This statement explains that salvation is possible for those who do not believe in Jesus Christ.  When through no fault of their own they do not know the Gospel, they can be saved if they “sincerely seek God” and “strive by their deeds” to do God’s will as it is known to them “through the dictates of conscience.”  Indeed, God provides “the helps necessary for salvation” to these individuals who by his grace “strive to live a good life.” 

 

The Pope’s statement is a very unsophisticated way of expressing the matter.  But according to Lumen Gentium the religion of the Sikh, Muslim and Hindu is a path that leads to God.  It is one of works as the individual “seeks God” within the setting of his religion and “strives by their deeds” to do God’s will as he understands it.  And so the official confession of the Roman Catholic church is one of universalism.  Yes the Pope is (Roman) Catholic.