In Brief
Pope Francis appeared to side with his predecessor Benedict XVI by saying Christ died “for many”, rather than “for all”.
It has been a contentious debate in Catholicism in recent years.
“The ‘many’ who will rise for eternal life are to be understood as the ‘many’ for whom the blood of Christ was shed,” Francis said. “They are the multitude that, thanks to the goodness and mercy of God, can experience the life that does not pass away, the complete victory over death brought by the resurrection.”
Francis argued that “for many” better captures the sense that human beings have to make a choice during this life, either for or against God.