Pope Francis rocked some religious and atheist minds today when he declared that everyone was redeemed through Jesus, including atheists.
The Lord created us in His image and likeness, and we are the image of the Lord, and He does good and all of us have this commandment at heart: do good and do not do evil. All of us. ‘But, Father, this is not Catholic! He cannot do good.’ Yes, he can... "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!".. We must meet one another doing good. ‘But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!’ But do good: we will meet one another there.
I'm not sure why this is big news. This same sentiment is contained in the catechism, written by John Paul II, and wasn't shocking then as it was viewed as church teaching.
Many Christians though believe that salvation is predicated on a belief that Christ is Lord and Savior, and some profess that this belief alone guarantees eternal life.
