All salvation comes through Christ
Catechesis by Pope John Paul II on the Church
General Audience, Wednesday 31 May 1995 - in Italian & Spanish
"1.The difficulties that sometimes accompany the development of evangelization highlight a delicate problem, whose solution is not to be sought in purely historical or sociological terms. It is the problem of the salvation of those who do not visibly belong to the Church. We have not been given the possibility to discern the mystery of God's action in minds and hearts, in order to assess the power of Christ's grace as he takes possession, in life and in death, of all that "the Father gives him," and which he himself proclaims he does not want to "lose." We hear him repeat this in one of the suggested Gospel readings in the Mass for the dead (cf. Jn 6:39-40).
However, as I wrote in the Encyclical Redemptoris Missio, the gift of salvation cannot be limited "to those who explicitly believe in Christ and have entered the Church. Since salvation is offered to all, it must be made concretely available to all." And, in admitting that it is concretely impossible for many people to have access to the Gospel message, I added: "Many people do not have the opportunity to come to know or accept the Gospel revelation or to enter the Church. The social and cultural conditions in which they live do not permit this, and frequently they have been brought up in other religious traditions" (RM 10).
We must acknowledge that, as far as human beings can know and foresee, this practical impossibility would seem destined to last a long time, perhaps until the work of evangelization is finally completed. Jesus himself warned that only the Father knows "the exact time" set by him for the establishment of his kingdom in the world (cf. Acts 1:7).
2. What I have said above, however, does not justify the relativistic position of those who maintain that a way of salvation can be found in any religion, even independently of faith in Christ the Redeemer, and that interreligious dialogue must be based on this ambiguous idea. That solution to the problem of the salvation of those who do not profess the Christian creed is not in conformity with the Gospel. Rather, we must maintain that the way of salvation always passes through Christ, and therefore the Church and her missionaries have the task of making him known and loved in every time, place and culture. Apart from Christ "there is no salvation." As Peter proclaimed before the Sanhedrin at the very start of the apostolic preaching: "There is no other name in the whole world given to men by which we are to be saved" (Acts 4:12).
For those too who through no fault of their own do not know Christ and are not recognized as Christians, the divine plan has provided a way of salvation. As we read in the Council's Decree Ad Gentes, we believe that "God in ways known to himself can lead those inculpably ignorant of the Gospel" to the faith necessary for salvation (AG 7). Certainly, the condition "inculpably ignorant" cannot be verified nor weighed by human evaluation, but must be left to the divine judgment alone. For this reason, the Council states in the Constitution Gaudium et Spes that in the heart of every man of good will, "Grace works in an unseen way.... The Holy Spirit in a manner known only to God offers to every man the possibility of being associated with this paschal mystery" (GS 22).
3. It is important to stress that the way of salvation taken by those who do not know the Gospel is not a way apart from Christ and the Church. The universal salvific will is linked to the one mediation of Christ. "God our Savior...wants all men to be saved and come to know the truth. And the truth is this: God is one. One also is the mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all" (1 Tim 2:3-6). Peter proclaimed this when he said: "There is no salvation in anyone else" and called Jesus the "cornerstone" (Acts 4:11-12), emphasizing Christ's necessary role at the basis of the Church.
This affirmation of the Savior's "uniqueness" derives from the Lord's own words. He stated that he came "to give his own life in ransom for the many" (Mk 10:45), that is, for humanity, as St. Paul explains when he writes: "One died for all" (2 Cor 5:14; cf. Rom 5:18). Christ won universal salvation with the gift of his own life. No other mediator has been established by God as Savior. The unique value of the sacrifice of the cross must always be acknowledged in the destiny of every man.
4. Since Christ brings about salvation through his Mystical Body, which is the Church, the way of salvation is connected essentially with the Church. The axiom extra ecclesiam nulla salus"--"outside the Church there is no salvation"--stated by St. Cyprian (Epist. 73, 21; PL 1123 AB), belongs to the Christian tradition. It was included in the Fourth Lateran Council (DS 802), in the Bull Unam Sanctam of Boniface VIII (DS 870) and the Council of Florence (Decretum pro Jacobitis, DS 1351).
The axiom means that for those who are not ignorant of the fact that the Church has been established as necessary by God through Jesus Christ, there is an obligation to enter the Church and remain in her in order to attain salvation (cf. LG 14). For those, however, who have not received the Gospel proclamation, as I wrote in the Encyclical Redemptoris Missio, salvation is accessible in mysterious ways, inasmuch as divine grace is granted to them by virtue of Christ's redeeming sacrifice, without external membership in the Church, but nonetheless always in relation to her (cf. RM 10). It is a mysterious relationship. It is mysterious for those who receive the grace, because they do not know the Church and sometimes even outwardly reject her. It is also mysterious in itself, because it is linked to the saving mystery of grace, which includes an essential reference to the Church the Saviour founded.
In order to take effect, saving grace requires acceptance, cooperation, a yes to the divine gift. This acceptance is, at least implicitly, oriented to Christ and the Church. Thus it can also be said that sine ecclesia nulla salus--"without the Church there is no salvation." Belonging to the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, however implicitly and indeed mysteriously, is an essential condition for salvation.
5. Religions can exercise a positive influence on the destiny of those who belong to them and follow their guidance in a sincere spirit. However, if decisive action for salvation is the work of the Holy Spirit, we must keep in mind that man receives his salvation only from Christ through the Holy Spirit. Salvation already begins during earthly life. This grace, when accepted and responded to, brings forth fruit in the gospel sense for earth and for heaven.
Hence the importance of the Church's indispensable role. She "is not an end unto herself, but rather is fervently concerned to be completely of Christ, in Christ and for Christ, as well as completely of men, among men and for men." This role then is not "ecclesiocentric," as is sometimes said. The Church does not exist nor does she work for herself, but is at the service of a humanity called to divine sonship in Christ (cf. RM 19). She thus exercises an implicit mediation also with regard to those who do not know the Gospel.
What has been said, however, should not lead to the conclusion that her missionary activity is less needed in these situations--quite the contrary. In fact, whoever does not know Christ, even through no fault of his own, is in a state of darkness and spiritual hunger, often with negative repercussions at the cultural and moral level. The Church's missionary work can provide him with the resources for the full development of Christ's saving grace, by offering full and conscious adherence to the message of faith and active participation in Church life through the sacraments.
This is the theological approach drawn from Christian tradition. The Church's Magisterium has followed it in her doctrine and practice as the way indicated by Christ himself for the apostles and for missionaries in every age."
After the Catechesis, Papa Giovanni Paolo II greeted the pilgrims in various languages
Ai pellegrini di lingua francese
Chers frères et sœurs,
J’accueille avec joie les personnes de langue française présentes à cette audience. En particulier, je salue cordialement le groupe de “vierges consacrées” du patriarcat de Jérusalem, les fidèles de l’église Saint–Paul à Kifissia en Grèce ainsi que les pèlerins venus de l’île de la Martinique. Je souhaite que leur visite à Rome les fortifie dans la foi et les encourage à participer activement à la vie de leurs communautés ecclésiales.
À tous, jeunes et adultes, je donne de grand cœur ma Bénédiction Apostolique.
Ai fedeli di lingua inglese
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I am pleased to greet all the English–speaking visitors present at today’s Audience, especially the groups from England, Ireland, Greece, Jordan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Korea, Australia and the United States. Upon you and your families I cordially invoke the joy and peace of the Risen Christ.
Ai pellegrini di lingua tedesca
Liebe Schwestern und Brüder!
Mit dieser kurzen Betrachtung grüe ich alle deutschsprachigen Pilger und Besucher sehr herzlich. Mein besonderer Gru gilt den Mitgliedern der Arbeitsgemeinschaft kirchlicher Museen und Schatzkammern, die zu ihrer Jahrestagung nach Rom gekommen sind.
Euch allen, Euren lieben Angehörigen zu Hause sowie den mit uns über Radio Vatikan und das Fernsehen verbundenen Gläubigen erteile ich von Herzen meinen Apostolischen Segen.
Ai pellegrini di lingua spagnola
Queridos hermanos y hermanas,
Saludo ahora con afecto a los peregrinos de lengua española, venidos desde América Latina y España. En particular, al Obispo de Mercedes–Luján, acompañado de varios sacerdotes de la diócesis; al “Coro Estable de Concordia” (Argentina); a la “Peregrinación Divina Misericordia” de Panamá; al grupo de peregrinos colombianos; y a los miembros de la “Asociación Cultural Bagabilza” de Bilbao (España). A todos os exhorto a estar con María, como los Apóstoles después de la Ascensión del Señor, para implorar el Espíritu y obtener fuerza y valor para cumplir el mandato misionero. Con agrado os imparto de corazón la Bendición Apostólica.
Ai fedeli portoghesi
Caríssimos Irmãos e Irmãs de língua portuguesa,
Com votos cordiais de felicidades, saúdo quantos me escutam, em particular os brasileiros de Recife em peregrinação por Roma, e os portugueses de Viana do Castelo, acompanhados pelo Vigário–Geral da Diocese. Que o Espírito da Verdade, o Espírito Santo, ilumine sempre de esperança em Cristo os vossos caminhos, na graça e na paz de Deus, nosso Pai.
Ai fedeli polacchi
Jeszcze serdecznie witam wszystkich pielgrzymów z Polski. Lista wszystkich grup została już odczytana. W szczególności witam: z Krakowa – parafię św. Mikołaja; z Wadowic – parafię Świetych Piotra i Pawła, z nowym proboszczem – pamiętamy poprzedniego, twórcę, budowniczego Kościoła – i modlimy się za jego duszę; z Zawiercia – parafię św. Wojciecha; z Konina – parafię bł. s. Faustyny; ze Stalowej Woli – parafię Bożej Opatrzności; ze Świdnicy – parafię Matki Bożej Królowej Polski; grupy z Raciborza, Pakości, Sosnowca, Podgórza, Koniakowa, Nowego Sącza, Nowej Soli, Dąbrowy Niemodlińskiej, Prusic i Białegostoku. Witam także młodzież z Makowa Podhalańskiego oraz pielgrzymkę polsko–amerykańską ze Stanów Zjednoczonych.
Ai gruppi venuti dalle diocesi italiane
Porgo un cordiale benvenuto ai pellegrini di lingua italiana, in particolare ai Fratelli Coadiutori dell’Opera Don Orione, provenienti da varie parti del mondo, in occasione del centenario dell’Ordinazione sacerdotale del Beato Fondatore. Carissimi, lo Spirito Santo ravvivi in ciascuno di voi l’ardore apostolico del vostro Padre spirituale! Saluto anche i Sacerdoti di Vicenza e le numerose Religiose Infermiere, che incoraggio a proseguire con rinnovato amore il prezioso servizio agli anziani ammalati.
Sono lieto di accogliere i fedeli di Caposile in Diocesi di Treviso, venuti a Roma col loro Parroco, al quale porgo fervidi auguri per i 60 anni di sacerdozio e 40 di ministero in tale Comunità; saluto poi i membri della Compagnia di Maria Missionaria, per i quali volentieri benedico l’immagine della Madonna; come pure gli anziani della parrocchia romana di S. Maria del Divino Amore e i podisti della “Peace Run Italia”, che recano una fiaccola testimone di pace per le strade del mondo.
Ai giovani, agli ammalati e agli sposi novelli
Mi rivolgo ora ai giovani, agli sposi novelli ed agli ammalati, con uno speciale pensiero per il gruppo di persone affette da leucemia, accompagnate dall’Associazione Italiana contro le Leucemie.
Oggi, ultimo giorno del mese di Maggio, la Chiesa celebra la Visita di Maria alla cugina Elisabetta, dalla quale è proclamata beata perché ha creduto alla parola del Signore (cf. Lc 1, 45). Voi, cari giovani, guardate a Lei e da Lei implorate il dono di una fede sempre più matura; voi, cari ammalati, domandateLe la grazia di una fede sempre più forte; e per voi, cari sposi novelli, chiedeteLe la gioia di una fede sempre più profonda. Il suo esempio e la sua materna intercessione ci accompagnino sempre nel cammino di testimonianza cristiana. Di cuore tutti vi benedico.
Davanti alla Grotta di Lourdes, nei Giardini Vaticani, si svolge come di consueto, nella serata odierna, la conclusione del mese mariano.
Giovanni Paolo II, al termine della Celebrazione della Parola, presieduta dal Cardinale Virgilio Noè, Vicario Generale di Sua Santità per la Città del Vaticano, rivolge ai 3000 fedeli che hanno partecipato alla processione mariana, le seguenti parole.
In quest’ultima giornata del mese di maggio, festività della Visitazione, è bello che la comunità della Santa Sede, della Città del Vaticano, faccia visita alla Grotta della Madonna di Lourdes.
Questa visita ha la sua tradizione e dice anche molto sulla devozione alla Madre di Dio in questo centro della Chiesa.
In questo anno la memoria liturgica ci ricorda anche la sua presenza nel Cenacolo, perché siamo nella novena che si sviluppa tra l’Ascensione e la Pentecoste. Erano le giornate riempite dalla preghiera di tutti i discepoli del Signore insieme con sua Madre. E la Chiesa attribuisce grande importanza a questa prima novena, a questa preghiera comune degli Apostoli nei giorni che precedevano la nascita della Chiesa.
Qui in Vaticano, come in tanti altri punti del globo terrestre, nasce sempre la Chiesa. Ma qui nasce in modo del tutto speciale, centrale, nel senso che qui è il centro del Ministero legato alla Sede di Pietro.
Vi ringrazio tutti, carissimi: Cardinali, Vescovi, sacerdoti, suore, tutti, fratelli e sorelle, convenuti in quest’ultima giornata del mese di maggio.
Vi ringrazio per la vostra preghiera. Vi lascio una Benedizione che sia anche appoggiata alla preghiera, all’intercessione della nostra Madre celeste.
Sia lodato Gesù Cristo!
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