Is Francis the Most Liberal Pope in History? The 12 Most Shocking Statements He’s Made
Pope Francis is a leader who has caused many debates amongst the faithful with his unique take on beliefs and societal issues. In this article, we’ll discuss 12 of his most surprising statements that have impacted the Catholic Church and the wider world. Do you agree with his controversial beliefs?
1. He Supports Climate Change Efforts
The Pope has stated that he strongly supports efforts to address climate change, emphasizing that they’re crucial for the future of humanity. He also spoke out against those who deny that the Earth is getting warmer.
In his first major letter since becoming Pope, Francis emphasized that we have a moral duty to take care of the environment, and this is closely connected to helping the world’s most disadvantaged people overcome poverty.
2. He Thinks Women Should Be Church Leaders
Pope Francis supports more significant involvement of women in the church. In early 2014, he praised women for their vital role in society, mentioning how they already take on pastoral responsibilities alongside priests and within families.
He expressed his desire for women to have an even more active and influential role in the church, emphasizing their unique qualities like sensitivity and tenderness. The Pope also pointed out the need to expand women’s roles in the workplace.
3. He Thinks Terminating Pregnancy Should Be Forgiven
Pope Francis has emphasized that the church continues to view the termination of pregnancy as a serious moral wrongdoing. He acknowledged that some women may not fully realize the profound consequences of this action, and many feel they have no alternative.
As an act of compassion during the special Holy Year of Mercy, in 2015, the Pope allowed priests to forgive the “sin of pregnancy termination” for women who sincerely regret it. This adjustment doesn’t alter the church’s established beliefs, but it simplifies the process by permitting priests to grant forgiveness without needing approval from a bishop.
4. He Believes The Curia Needs Reform
Pope Francis has strongly criticized the main body that runs the church. He pointed out several problems he saw within the organization, like what he called “spiritual Alzheimer’s” and groups of people who spread gossip.
The Pope, who was elected in 2013 without much prior experience in Rome, promised to address these issues directly. He said that the organization, known as the Curia, needs to get better, be more united, more holy, and more knowledgeable to fulfill its purpose.
5. He Compared Catholics to Rabbits
Pope Francis has maintained the church’s stance that using artificial contraception is considered a sin. However, he once made controversial comments where he suggested that Catholics don’t need to have as many children as rabbits and that there are acceptable ways within the church to plan when to have children. Later, he praised larger families for embracing children as precious gifts from God.
6. He Has Condoned The Resignation of Popes
Pope Francis initially thought in 2015 that he wouldn’t be Pope for a very long time, maybe only four or five years or even less. He has also been open to the idea of resigning, just like his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, did in 2013.
He believes that what Pope Benedict did in stepping down was a brave move and could become a more common practice, making former popes a regular part of the Church’s structure, not just an exception.
7. He is Against The Right to Die Movement
In 2014, Pope Francis spoke out against the idea of people having the right to decide when they die, which is often called the right-to-die movement. He criticized the act of someone helping another person end their life, as he believed it gives a misleading idea of being compassionate.
8. He Does Not Judge Couples of the Same Gender
A few months after becoming Pope, Francis expressed a more accepting view than the Catholic Church had traditionally held. When asked if people with alternative lifestyle choices could be good Christians, he famously said, “Who am I to judge?” He emphasized that they should not be treated as outsiders and that being attracted to the same gender is not a problem. But it’s important to note that this didn’t lead to any official change in the church’s rules.
Bishops rejected a significant change that would have welcomed the “gifts and qualities” of Catholics with alternative attractions. In 2015, Pope Francis confirmed that he still opposes same-gender marriage, but he did say that the church could accept some forms of legal partnerships for same-gender couples.
9. He Believes in the Big Bang Theory
In 2014, Pope Francis entered the discussion about where human life comes from. According to him, the Big Bang theory not only supported but actually required the existence of a divine creator.
He explained that God is not like a magician but more like the one who started everything. He added that the process of evolution in nature is not in conflict with the idea of creation because, for evolution to happen, there must be beings created in the first place.
10. He Believes Divorced Catholics Should Not Be Shunned
In 2015, Pope Francis made a strong plea for the church to be more welcoming to Catholics who have gone through divorce and remarriage. He stressed that these individuals should not be treated as if they’ve been kicked out of the church.
Instead, they are still part of the church community. The Pope urged pastors to open their doors to these Catholics, even though, in many cases, they are currently not allowed to receive the Eucharist, which is a significant sacrament in the faith.
11. He Believes Atheists Can Go to Heaven
In 2013, Pope emphasized that people who don’t believe in God can still go to heaven if they live virtuous lives. Later that year, he spoke with an atheist Italian journalist in an exclusive interview, where he dismissed attempts to convert people to Christianity as “solemn nonsense.”
In a well-known sermon in May, Francis declared, “The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ, all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! ‘Father, the atheists?’ Even the atheists. Everyone!”
12. He Disagrees With Corporate Greed
In 2013, Pope Francis started a key theme of his papacy in his first official document. This made some conservatives, especially in the United States, uncomfortable. He criticized consumer culture, corporate greed, and the idea of trickle-down economics.
He wrote, “Today we also have to say ‘thou shalt not’ to an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills. How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points?”
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