Pope Francis: There is more than one path to God

Pope Francis says that there is more than one path to God. In his sermon during Sunday Mass the Pontiff said:

"We all know that many Christians - especially Protestants are taught that Jesus is the only way to God and that they must only pray to him because he said that he is the way the truth and the life and that nobody can come to the Father except through him. Well what you must know is that there is more to it than that. Think about it, if Jesus is the only way to God, then why isn't everybody Christian?"

The Leader of the of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics continued:

"Why is India predominantly Hindu? Why is Thailand mostly Buddhist? Are all of these people bad? Are they going to hell? The Bible tells us in 1 John 4:16 that God is love. That means that he loves us regardless of how we see him. Why is it always so difficult for Protestants to accept the fact that everybody is entitled to worship however they want to worship and that they are out of place to judge people based on their own interpretation of the Bible? How do they know if they are interpreting the Bible correctly?"

The Pontiff didn't let up as he went on:

"Protestants are always quick to criticize and judge people. Another thing that I can't seem to understand about Protestant teachers- especially those who call themselves Evangelicals is why is it that they are always angry? Has anyone ever listened to an Evangelical Pastor preach? They always seem to be in a rage."

Francis then referred to Catholics:

"We Catholics are very lucky. Or should I say blessed? We have so many Saints to intercede on our behalf. Not just Jesus. We have his mother the Virgin Mary who was born sinless and without whom he would not have been born. That's how important she is. Just think about it, if there was no Mary, there would be no Jesus. That is why it is imperative that we pray to her for her to take our petitions to Jesus. But it is not just Mother Mary. Throughout history many other people have obtained sainthood and it is important to our salvation that we pray to them too. In fact just this morning I offered a prayer to my patron Saint - Francis of Assisi and I am fully convinced that he heard me and that my prayer will be answered. So I just want you my children to know that there is more than one path to God. Not just through Jesus."

The Holy Father then concluded his sermon by warning his congregation about Protestants:

"But my dear children please be warned, there are many Protestants out there who are like wolves in sheep's clothing who will want to make you stray from the straight and narrow path by encouraging you to read and study the Bible on your own in order to confuse you. You must be wary of them and ask the Holy Mother through the daily recitations of the Rosary to give you the strength and wisdom to resist. May she continue to bless all of us."