For the purposes of this discussion, I'm assuming that everybody possesses the full truth of the Gospel.....at least in their own mind.
The question is, therefore, isn't it natural to want to spread that truth to those who don't have it in its completeness, whether they be atheists, agnostics or other believers who possess only a part of the truth?
Where I think he is correct on this small point is recognizing that genuine Christians do exist outside of Catholicism - and your own Catechism affirms this.
I've see nothing in the transcripts of the Pope's remarks which indicates any disinction between "those who are truly lost" (as you put it) and those who are "genuine Christians" (as you put it). My understanding is that his condenmation of proselytism is a blanket condemnation. He's saying "we don't proselytize....period".
What's the point of hammering on someone like me, for example, to "come back" to Catholicism when I already believe and accept the Christian truths and have a relationship with and follow Jesus Christ?
The word "hammering" is Francis-talk. That's how he views proselytism. It's a pejorative term. Spreading the faith doesn't have to be that way. The author of the article and similar converts don't feel they've been "hammered". They're grateful for being brought to the fullness of the truth.
I wonder what Bible-talk might be...
Luke 14:23
So the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the highways and the hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.
Maybe it was the FIRST part of the beginning sentence of this thread: "Proselytism among Christians..."?
The word "hammering" is Francis-talk. That's how he views proselytism. It's a pejorative term. Spreading the faith doesn't have to be that way. The author of the article and similar converts don't feel they've been "hammered". They're grateful for being brought to the fullness of the truth.
I don't believe that Roman Catholicism has the "completeness" or the "fullness" of the Christian faith. If I did, I would have stayed.