I heard something about the Pope?

Question

Ok I'm Catholic but I don't watch the Catholic Channel (EWTN) and I heard from one of our Jewish friends that her Catholic friend was freaking out over something the Pope had recently said about Purgatory or something. Did he say anything and if so what did he say?

no comments from anti catholics

I'm talking more recently than the Limbo thing.

Answer 1

The Pope recently backed a commission who said that the long-held beliefs about Limbo are wrong, and that unbaptized babies, we hope, do go to heaven.

http://www.zenit.org/article-19418?l=english

As for purgatory, as you can see from searching on Zenit, I'm sure there's no great new revelation on it. However, remember, we've recently had the feasts of All Saints and All Souls, so one shouldn't be surprised its come up in passing.

http://www.catholicexplorer.com/explore4325/nationworld/pray-for-the-dead-in-case-theyre-in-purgatory-says.shtml

Answer 2

The Pope has said nothing about purgatory and contrary to what some believe it is still a doctrine of the Church and will remain so until the Parousia.

Limbo was never a doctrine of the Church but only theological speculation. The recent writing about Limbo simply states that the Church no longer speculates as to how unbaptized children are saved but only prays for their salvation.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 3

The Church has pondered the suggestion of Limbo for a few hundred years and has decided that it is not a good idea. Limbo was never official doctrine.

Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved." (Mark 16:15-16)

For centuries, people have wondered about children who died before they were baptized. The Bible does not explicitly state that they will go to heaven.

Limbo was suggested as the place where unbaptized babies went when they died. This idea was never official Church doctrine and has been rejected.

The Church now says that it is not sure what happens to unbaptized babies when they die but she entrusts them to the mercy of God.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Chruch section 1261: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2.htm#1261

With love in Christ.

Answer 4

I haven't heard anything about purgatory, only Limbo.

To I_Am_Forsaken ....
The Pope was never a Nazi Guard. To say so is breaking God's commandment. It is bearing false witness.
The Pope, as were other youth at that time, was involved in the Nazi Youth Movement. That does not make him a supporter of the things that Hitler did.

Answer 5

Regarding the nature of purgatory, what do Catholic spokesmen say?

“Many think that the total suffering of purgatory is identified with the awareness of the temporary postponement of the beatific vision, although the more common view holds that, in addition to this, there is some positive punishment . . . In the Latin Church it has been generally maintained that this pain is imposed through real fire. This is not, however, essential to belief in purgatory. It is not even certain. . . . Even if one chooses, with the theologians of the East, to reject the idea of suffering induced by fire, one should be careful not to exclude all positive suffering from purgatory. There are still real affliction, sorrow, chagrin, shame of conscience, and other spiritual sorrows capable of inflicting true pain on the soul. . . . One should remember, at any rate, that in the midst of their sufferings these souls also experience great joy over the certainty of salvation.”

After reviewing what Catholic writers have said regarding such texts as 2 Maccabees 12:39-45, Matthew 12:32, and 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, the New Catholic Encyclopedia (1967, Vol. XI, p. 1034) acknowledges: “In the final analysis, the Catholic doctrine on purgatory is based on tradition, not Sacred Scripture.”

Answer 6

Nothing has changed on Purgatory.

The change concerned Limbo.

Answer 7

Oh wow, I heard he was a Nazi guard and turned a blind eye to innocent people being slaughtered in concentration camps!

Maybe thats what your friend was freaking out about! might want to double check!

Answer 8

It is so like a Catholic to focus on what the Pope says and not what God says.

Answer 9

Why don't you care what Jesus said?
...Do you even read the Bible?

Or do you just gossip?