Pope Francis faces backlash for claiming “All religions are a path to God”.
Pope Francis has drawn criticism from religious leaders following his statement that “all religions are a path to God.” The remarks were made during a three-day visit to Singapore at an interfaith meeting with young leaders at a Catholic junior college.
Speaking off-script, the pope compared different religions to “different languages” that lead to God. He stated, “If you start to fight, ‘my religion is more important than yours, mine is true, and yours isn’t,’ where will that lead us? There’s only one God, and each of us has a language to arrive at God—Sheik, Muslim, Hindu, Christian—they are different paths [to God].”
Bishop Joseph Strickland, formerly of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, strongly criticized the pope’s comments. Writing on social media platform X, Strickland urged prayer for the pontiff to reaffirm that Jesus Christ is the sole way to salvation, citing the biblical teaching: “If we deny Christ, He will deny us.” Strickland, removed from his position last year after disagreements with the Vatican on various issues, including pro-abortion Catholic politicians and LGBT outreach, has previously spoken out against Pope Francis.
The pope emphasized the universality of God, asserting, “Since God is God for all, then we are all children of God.” He also encouraged interfaith dialogue among youth, calling for courage in fostering mutual understanding.
In Singapore, Catholics make up 3.5% of the population, with Christians at 19%, Buddhists at 31%, Muslims at 15%, and significant Hindu and Sikh communities.
Calvin Robinson, a church leader in Michigan, also condemned the pope’s statements, calling them counter-scriptural. Quoting Jesus’ words, Robinson said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
This is not the first time Pope Francis has faced criticism for his views. In May, he sparked controversy during a “60 Minutes” interview by claiming the human heart is “fundamentally good,” leading some to accuse him of heresy. Despite the backlash, Francis remains steadfast in his efforts to promote interfaith understanding and unity.
