Did you see that Pope Francis told Catholics not to convert nonbelievers?

Answer:

I'm not a fan of Roman Catholic beliefs, but I also believe that people's positions should be accurately presented. The claim that appeared in numerous places, such as the World Net Daily, said, "Pope warns followers of Jesus not to convert nonbelievers." I found it suspicious because it does not match what I know about Roman Catholicism.

Pope Francis's address on January 18, 2023, stated:

"Perhaps we see those who have left the flock as adversaries or enemies. “And this person? Hasn’t he gone to the other side? She lost her faith…. They are going to hell…” and we are serene. When we meet them at school, at work, on the streets of our city, why don’t we think instead that we have a beautiful opportunity to witness to them the joy of a Father who loves them and has never forgotten them? Not to proselytize, no! But that the Word of the Father might reach them so we can walk together. To evangelize is not to proselytize. To proselytize is something pagan, it is neither religious nor evangelical. There is a good word for those who have left the flock and we have the honour and the burden of being the ones to speak that word."

Clearly, he thinks teaching the lost is necessary but his words are confusing and it revolves around his use of the word "proselytize."

The true definition of the word proselytize is: "convert or attempt to convert (someone) from one religion, belief, or opinion to another." In Greek, the word is proselutos and simply means "convert." It was used in the Old Testament to refer to foreigners who had converted to Judaism. And the definition of evangelize is "convert or seek to convert (someone) to Christianity." Thus, Francis' statement "To evangelize is not to proselytize" is a contradiction and necessarily false.

However, Roman Catholics have a strong tendency to redefine words and Francis has done this with the word "proselytize." "In a relatively recent sense of the term, “proselytization” refers to using inappropriate tactics to get someone to convert, rather than allowing them to make a free choice for Christ. The inappropriate tactics can take a number of forms, including deception, coercion, emotional manipulation, threats, and even bribery." [Jimmy Atkin, "Pope Francis on 'Proselytism'", Catholic Answers, 21 October 2013.] Notice the admission that this definition is "relatively recent."

I agree that deception, coercion, emotional manipulation, and bribery are all wrong ways to bring someone to Christ. I suspect most Christians would agree. (See Methods of Divisive Teachers.) However, Francis is obscuring his message by incorrectly using terms.  "Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers" (II Timothy 2:14).