I heard my pastor, Fr. Simon, talking on the radio about limbo.  I guess the Pope said there is no Limbo and everyone was talking about it.  Fr. Simon was quoting all these ancient authors and I’m not quite sure what he said.  Can you clarify?

Thank you,

Mrs. Nell Basamento

I have met your pastor, and though his heart is in the right place his mind is a bit scattered.

He has no simple answers, no matter how simple the question. 

Sometimes it is safer not to ask, unless you are ready for an hour lecture on Greek verbs and ancient history.

The question is answered very simply in paragraph 1261 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church   “As regards children who have died without Baptism.... Jesus’ tenderness towards children.... allows us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without baptism.”

As for the Pope saying there is no limbo, nonsense!  He said no such thing.

He approved the ideas of commission about rethinking the issue of the salvation of un-baptized infants.  He didn't comment on limbo one way or another.  In fact, no pope has ever officially commented on limbo one way or another.

Limbo is mentioned in only one church document, “Cantate Domino” produced at the council of Florence in 1442.  The document doesn't say there is a Limbo.  It says that it is not opposed to Catholic doctrine to say that there may be a limbo.

Limbo was and is a theory of theologians on how God’s perfect justice and perfect mercy are reconciled.

What this commission is saying as approved by Pope Benedict is that we may hope that there is more than limbo for those who, through no fault of their own, die without baptism.

What a tempest in a teapot!  Or in the case of our beloved Bavarian Pope, a brouhaha in a beer stein.

Despite what the vultures of the media want you to think, he is a kind and decent man who is doing a good job under difficult circumstances.

Yours as ever,

Rev. Know-It-All