Pope Francis tells atheists: Do good and we will meet one another

Pope Francis has said people of all religions – and none at all – ‘have a duty to do good’.

The Roman Catholic leader said atheists and believers alike must ‘meet one another doing good’.He made the comments during the homily of his morning Mass on Wednesday.

The Pontiff told a story of a Catholic who asked a priest if atheists were redeemed by Jesus.According to a report of his words on Vatican Radio, he said: ‘Even the atheists. Everyone.‘We are created children in the likeness of God and the blood of Christ has redeemed us all.‘We all have a duty to do good. And this commandment for everyone to do good, I think, is a beautiful path towards peace.

‘If we, each doing our own part, if we do good to others, if we meet there, doing good, and we go slowly, gently, little by little, we will make that culture of encounter: we need that so much. We must meet one another doing good.

’The Pope posed a hypothetical comment from an atheist saying they did not believe, which was met with the response: ‘But do good: we will meet one another there.’