The Pope and Jesus

My last blog post about hell leads somehow to a controversial quote from the previous pope. He stated: "I like to think hell is empty." Technically spoken he didn't violate Catholic Church doctrine about the existence of hell with this statement since even an empty hell is an existing hell. But seeing this in a more practical way: When someone thinks hell will be empty, he sees no need for the existence of hell which comes pretty close to denying the existence of hell. Much more important whether or not the previous pope violated the doctrine of his church with his statement is that what he said is in stark contrast to what Jesus said about hell on many occasions.

For example: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14 NIV) Does this sound like an empty hell? Not at all! Jesus thought that there are many on the road to hell and, therefore, also in hell.

Furthermore, the question if there is a hell or not cannot be separated from the core Christian message, which is that Jesus died on the cross for our sins! How does this make sense if there is no hell? Would somebody die for others if there is no hell people need to be saved from? Dying on the cross is the "ultima ratio," one would only do this when there is no other option. If there were no hell, Jesus' death on the cross would be an unnecessary step, thus denying hell reveals a gross misunderstanding of Jesus' life and ministry as a whole.

That, of all people, the previous pope contradicted the words of Jesus about hell is a bitter irony since the job of the pope is to share, explain, edify, and confirm the words and deeds of Jesus, not to violate them.