Vatican City, Oct 13, 2016 / 09:42 am
On Thursday, asked about what he likes and doesn't like in the Lutheran ecclesial community, Pope Francis said he likes Lutherans who are active followers of Christ, while he dislikes Christians who are hypocritical or who have a lukewarm faith.
"I like all the good Lutherans, eh?" he said. "There are many good ones, the Lutherans who really follow Jesus Christ. On the other hand, I don't like lukewarm Catholics or lukewarm Lutherans."
The Pope's response was made during an audience with Lutheran pilgrims at the Vatican Oct. 13. During the meeting, he condemned those Christians, who, he said, have a "hypocritical attitude," stating that you can't be a Christian without living as a Christian.
The audience with Lutherans took place ahead of the Pope's trip to Sweden for a joint commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. The meeting in Sweden will also highlight 50 years of official dialogue between Catholics and Lutherans.