No Salvation without the Church

Abstract

Extra ecclesiam nulla salus has been central to Catholic understandings of salvation for centuries, but precisely what that means with regard to people of other Christian denominations, other faiths, and people of no faith, has been subject to reinterpretation. This article argues that in the words and deeds of Pope Francis, he has suggested that people of any faith and none can and should be viewed as “valued allies” to the Catholic Church, especially where anyone is willing to work cooperatively for the common good of all. I propose that this way of thinking about people outside of the Catholic Church constitutes a rethinking of the ancient mantra that recognizes the necessity of churches, people of other faiths, and no faith, being willing to work together to realize the common goals of equality, peace, and justice.