Pope Francis has found himself in the middle of sensational claims as it is alleged that he told an Italian journalist that “there is no hell”.
The Vatican has swiftly denied that the comment was made by issuing a statement saying that no such interview had been granted to the journalist.
Eugenio Scalfari, 93, the founder of La Repubblica newspaper, had a private meeting with the pope. According to his article, he asked Pope Francis where “bad souls” go and where they are punished.
Scalfari quoted the pope as allegedly saying, “They are not punished. Those who repent obtain God's forgiveness and take their place among the ranks of those who contemplate him, but those who do not repent and cannot be forgiven disappear. A Hell doesn't exist – the disappearance of sinning souls exists.”
It is the third time that the Vatican has issued statements denying articles by Scarfari about the pope.
