Story:
Pope Francis Condemns Racism And Declares That “All Religions Are True” At Historic Third Vatican Council.
Analysis:
Messages circulating through social media sites claim that Pope Francis had condemned racism and declared that “all religions are true” at the Third Vatican Council. It is not a fact.
On 5 December 2013, Diversity Chronicle published an article with same title, claiming to explain some shocking views of Pope Francis expressed at the historic Third Vatican Council. Shortly after it was published, the message spread wide through social media, with links and excerpts from the article — mistaking it for genuine news.
The article stated Pope Francis had announced that “All religions are true, because they are true in the hearts of all those who believe in them.” Condemning racism, the Pope is claimed to have said that a racist is not a true Christian, and those who dare to turn immigrants away turn their backs on Christ himself! It is also said that Pope Francis called Muslims, Hindus and African Animists as equal in the image of God. At last, the Pope has supposedly shocked many people, warning that those who deny a home to a migrant risk their membership in the church.
Although the story rightly highlights certain moral and human values with respect to religion and racism, the article was basically a satirical publication, as mentioned in the disclaimer of the Diversity Chronicle website – “The original content on this blog is largely satirical.” Moreover, there hasn’t been a Third Vatican Council as such, the Second Vatican Council occurred between 1962-1965, and any such major event now would get significant media coverage. So Pope Francis did not claim that “all religions are true,” the claims originated from a satirical article.
Hoax or Fact:
Hoax.
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