Vatican: Atheists still going to Hell
By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
VATICAN CITY (Worthy News)– A Vatican spokesman explained Thursday that atheists are still going to perdition despite Pope Francis’ homily last week that proclaimed all of us, even atheists, were capable of doing good.
“Doing good,” the pope said, “is a duty … that our Father has given to all of us, because He has made us in His image and likeness. And He does good, always.”
But in an explanatory note, the Rev. Thomas Rosica wrote that Pope Francis didn’t intend to spark a theological debate about the nature of salvation by his homily.
Rosica advised his fellow Romans to refer to the Catechism of the Catholic Church to better understand the Church’s teaching on who will be saved and how.
“Christ will judge with the power he has gained as the Redeemer of the world who came to bring salvation to all …,” wrote Rosica. “The one Church of Christ … subsists in (subsistit in) the Catholic Church, governed by the Successor of Peter and the bishops in communion with him. Only through this Church can one obtain the fullness of the means of salvation since the Lord has entrusted all the blessings of the New Covenant to the apostolic college alone whose head is Peter.”
And since all salvation “comes from Christ, the Head, through the Church which is his body … they cannot be saved who, knowing the Church as founded by Christ and necessary for salvation, would refuse to enter her, or remain in her …”
In other words, there is no salvation for anyone, including atheists and Christians of other denominations that are outside of the Roman Catholic Church.
In his homily, however, Pope Francis declared that everyone, including atheists, have been redeemed by Christ so that all can work together to do good.
“The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ,” said Francis. “All of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! ‘Father, the atheists?’ Even the atheists. Everyone!”
Well, perhaps not everyone, at least not according to everyone working in the Vatican.
Worthy News reports from a biblical worldview with a commitment to accuracy, transparency, and editorial independence. Learn more about About Worthy News, our Editorial Standards, AI Use Policy, Ownership of Worthy News, News Tips and Corrections, and Worthy News Staff.
đź’ˇ Did you know? One of the best ways you can support Worthy News is by simply leaving a comment and sharing this article.
📢 Social media algorithms push content further when there’s more engagement — so every 👍 like, 💬 comment, and 🔄 share helps more people discover the truth. 🙌
Latest Worthy News
Books by George Whitten
The Eternal Kingdom Revealed https://eternalkingdomrevealed.com
The Eternal Kingdom Revealed traces the Kingdom of God as the central story of Scripture, from before creation to the restoration of all things.
Identity in Messiah Revealed https://identityinmessiah.com
A devotional journey calling believers out of self-doubt and into confident, Kingdom-rooted identity in the Messiah.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.