THINK for a minute — Jesus is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. And his last prayer was: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
What does all this mean for pagans and Buddhists and atheists who have never heard about Christ, or having heard, do not know enough to believe? Did the Son of God’s prayer go unanswered for those who do not know what they are doing because of ignorance?
His mercy draws everyone to eternal life. Not everyone responds (to believe otherwise is the heresy of universalism). Some respond thinking that they need no mercy, from God or from anyone else (that’s the heresy of Pelgianism).
Then there are those who respond without full knowledge of what they are doing. “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison?”
This saying illuminates the spiritual status of those who do not believe in God due to innocent ignorance. If they respond to Christ in one of His “distressing disguises” (Mother Theresa’s phrase), then Jesus says He counts it as a response to Him. They are not getting into heaven without Christ, they are getting into heaven by receiving Christ in disguise.
“Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me. These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
In conclusion, the Pope is just reiterating basic Catholic doctrine in harmony with Scripture — but using his provocative modern-media sauce to get the attention of everyone — atheists and Christians — to THINK about God’s gifts of Mercy and Sanctifying Grace.
Jesus never said ignorance was an excuse for not accepting the salvation offered which all men will know.....that is our mission to reach out with the Gospel Message. Further many Ignorant people have indeed come to him by the faith God gives them to believe. We were all “Ignorant”....to begin with. Be it having no knowledge of the things of God, though he clearly says nature speaks volumes of him, or under false teachings that lead people astray or keep them from the truth of His Salvation message.
Further the Pope said nothing about people ‘Thinking about God” as you indicated. It does not help the Popes poor position by excusing him where there is no excuse.
Jesus' prayer for the Roman soldiers at the foot of the cross that were killing Him is not reasonably extrapolated against the whole of Scripture where such extrapolation would only find copious contradiction.
Not all are predestined to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself. The path of destruction is broad and narrow is the gate that leads to life.
Righteousness of self that is not the likeness of Christ is by no means the same as putting on the new self, which is His likeness.
Would you indeed equate ignorance with being saved and walking in the Light? Why do you feel the need to equate grace through faith--the gift from God--with Mother Teresa's "distressing disguises", even if such a one were as an angel of Light, as Satan is known to disguise himself? God's Word should never be so supplanted!
Hebrews 11 instructs that many prior to Christ did faith-filled deeds, even in anticipation of Christ, but those did not achieve the salvation of Christ. Their works were considered righteousness, but they did not receive what was promised and only fulfilled in Christ! There was still the need of a Savior, who is Christ the Lord! Apart from that and the faith-gifted believers in the Savior even those would not be made perfect.
Francis is not reiterating divinely revealed mysteries but denying Scripture, with which he is apparently unfamiliar, which is truly in God's Hands to grant or withhold. To get where Francis is, he must surely have had a power to influence many, apparently in sinister ways.
HF