In case you haven’t heard, Pope Francis is in critical condition.
I know that there are many people around the world who do not agree with the way Pope Francis has applied his Christian faith to social, cultural, and political issues such as immigration, LGBTQ rights, the environment, and Trumpism. But I was reminded this week that there are people, like megachurch pastor Jack Hibbs, who also believe that Francis is on his way to hell. This kind of anti-Catholicism has a long history in American history and it is still prevalent today in evangelical Christianity.
Here is Hibbs on X:
Just as revealing are the more than 1,400 Facebook comments to the same post. Here are a few:
—Praying he accepts Jesus as his Lord and Savior and turns to Him!!
–Praying there is someone caring for him who can witness to him and pray with him. He needs to repent and find Jesus as his Savior. Elaine, OTM
—This is where I balk. I was Catholic for 32 years. I knew Jesus then. I know Jesus now. Catholics believe that Jesus is our Lord and savior. We believe that he is the only path to heaven. We believe in the virgin birth. The holy trinity, and the salvation that Jesus gives. I do think these messages are not necessary. I heard Pastor Jack say this. I thought wrong of it when he did. The Pope has two agenda’s. 1 To advance faith to all people, and to bring the peace of the Lord to all people. I don’t agree on how progressive he has been. But hardliners these days don’t promote healing, or love. He’s in a hard spot. But of course he knows Jesus. His Christmas message of bringing hope to the world was wonderful. I needed to hear that on Christmas Eve. I have hope in Jesus, and I have hope that he is working in my good. I will see my youngest son against someday when he decides that this estrangement is over. As for the Pope, all those that judge him….save that for the Almighty. I know he loves and believes in Jesus.
–It’s not my place to judge another man’s state of grace. I do believe that he will have much to answer for because his doctrine recently has not been lining up with scripture. Praying for his healing and that God will open his eyes to the truth.
–James 4:4, Friendship with the world is enmity with God, this pope approves of what the world does more than stand for and obey God’s word. May he make it right with God before it is too late.
–Yes, I ask Father God to speak to his heart and call the Pope to repentance. And receive the free gift of Salvation by the shed blood of Jesus. Amen
–I’ve been praying for him to be saved before it’s too late!!
–We have Catholics in our Bible study. They all believe in Jesus Christ. What inside information do you have that makes you believe he does not believe in Jesus?
–I was raised Catholic and left the church almost 30 years ago. My mother remained catholic to her dying day. But she knew that Jesus is the only way to heaven. She accepted Him as her savior.
–…he has not been spreading the words of the Bible but an agenda. I watched some Catholic bigwig last night say the pope is a Jesuit and leans left. He has allowed worldly changes to affect his belief system, which does not even line up with much of Catholic doctrine. I am praying for a true Bible believing spirit-led pope to be the next pope. Lead the people back to Christ and away from liberal ideology. Most Catholics, to be honest, are not happy at all with his leading.
–Have you not heard his speeches throughout his years? I was a Catholic too, until I started reading the Bible, and when I heard Pope talking here or there many times, was the opposite of what God’s Word was. Which at that time shocked me, but as soon as I became Born Again, I was able to see the Truth, and that was that the Pope was preaching opposite Gods Word. He also was promoting one world religion, which is Not of God. He preached to go by your own understanding, again not of God, he preached atheist will go to Heaven if they are good, also not of God. He preached Jesus was a failure on the cross. So much more evil things he said. By the way this is not “inside” information, he preached this and it was no secret.
–ALL CATHOLICS not just the pope should be prayed for. Being that I was once a catholic they don’t know about salvation. They know to follow the rules (works) and pray to Mary (another sinner) a vessel used by God to bring the savior into the world!! I upset many Catholics when I mention salvation. I bring the gospel in love but am met with hostility.
–I have been praying for a visit from Holy Spirit to convict him of his sins and bring him into the knowledge of salvation through Christ for a couple of days now. Lord break down his religious ideology so he can see only You
–I come from a long line of Catholics…..I’ve never heard the pope speak of it although he should have shouted John 3 over the balcony where he speaks. They still think baby baptism saves you and the sacraments give you that extra push to the gates of St. Peter. We can only pray God sends a Christian nurse to his bedside.
–-Thank you for posting it like this. I was a little disappointed in the way that Franklin Graham posted to just pray for his healing. We need to be praying for his salvation more than anything.
Note: This commenter is referring to this Graham tweet:
–I have been praying for him that he hear our Father speak to his heart and he accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. I ask that we pray together: Heavenly Father, we pray You block any “noise” that would prevent Pope Francis from hearing You call his name to repentance and accept Your Son Jesus as His Lord and Savior before he departs this world. Thank you, Lord, for hearing our prayer and for all Your blessings. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
–This man is a false prophet! But I pray for his salvation
–None of you are his judge and jury for anything and especially his soul and relationship with Jesus. You are not inside his mind or heart nor have walked in his shoes whatsoever. Utterly ridiculous to even comment as though you are in the know more than God is. Utterly ridiculous post. Yes pray for him and everyone’s salvation.
–It is so sad because he is not praying to the God of the Bible. If anyone is following and believing what the Pope is saying, their salvation is also in jeopardy. He is misleading the Catholic Church. Please find a true Bible teaching church.
–Can you imagine the impact if he asked Jesus into his heart and radically changed???
–One can’t judge the heart of man… only the Lord. Be careful… as you judge you will be judged. Pray for him in a positive uplifting manner instead of judging his salvation for which you don’t know. Do not lead the people down a wrong path.
–I love your teachings, but I feel it’s not your place to judge/know the popes heart, that’s between him and his lord and not for you to judge he doesn’t, I don’t believe in the catholic beliefs. But I don’t think you have the right to blast that he doesn’t sit right with Jesus, you don’t know his heart and shouldn’t assume you do.
–This really bothers me. I’m not Catholic but I love Pope Francis. He reminds me of Jesus and has since day one. I pray that God allows him to live and continue to spread the love of Jesus. He is amazing. It bothers me that Christians seem intent on bringing each other down. I’ve attended and worshipped in many different denominational Protestant churches, as well as Catholic. The worst thing I encounter is the criticism of other fellow Christians. I ask… is this the best way to minister to non-Christians and atheists?
–Pastor Jack, you are, a man of truth and God has given you clout! Pray for an opportunity for God to have you witness to this man that he might be saved!
–He has led many people down a very confusing path when it comes to salvation. One way to Heaven~ Jesus! Not Allah. Not Buddha. Not Mary. Only Jesus. Praying that he accepts this truth on this side of the veil. I’m not about to judge him otherwise… only the Lord knows our hearts and our conversions. Pray.
–For God’s sake, this man is very sick and am sure his relationship with God is between him and God!!!! In the Bible it says, we are not to judge and PRAY for all those that are sick. Not slander the sick!!!
Several things strike me about these comments:
- Many evangelicals do not understand Catholic theology. or at least seem to have embraced older pre-Vatican II views of Catholicism.
- There are a growing number of evangelicals who reject what Hibbs is teaching here. Yet they still appear to attend his church.
- Several of these commentators seem to equate a person’s salvation or Christian beliefs with their political views. Francis has some progressive views, so he can’t be a true Christian.
- Many of these commentators are expressing a longstanding evangelical practice of claiming to know God’s will as it relates to other people’s salvation, especially Catholics. They obviously learned this from Hibbs. We also saw some of this a few months ago when Albert Mohler questioned the salvation of Jimmy Carter, a fellow Baptist.