Pope Francis Slams 'Pagan Christians,' Calls Them 'Enemies Of The Cross'

Without mincing words, Pope Francis has condemned people who are merely Christian in name but are actually living a "pagan life," calling them "enemies of the Cross."

In his homily for Mass at the Santa Marta residence last Friday, the Holy Father said there are only two types of Christians – those who advance in their faith, and those who behave as "enemies of the Cross of Christ."

Describing these "enemies," the Pope said they are actually "pagans with two strokes of Christian paint, in order to appear as Christians."

As he reflected on the day's reading from Paul to the Philippians, Pope Francis cited the Lord's words against these pagans: "Because you are lukewarm (Christians) I vomit you from my mouth."

The Pope said these lukewarm Christians "are citizens of the world" but not of Heaven and that they destined for damnation.

He then challenged the faithful to examine themselves and see whether they exhibit worldliness and paganism. He cited the signs when someone is "drifting toward worldliness": self love, attachment to money, vanity, and pride.

But if "you seek to love God, to serve others, if you are meek, if you are humble... you are on a good path. Your citizen card is good: it is of Heaven," the Pope said.

"Worldliness leads to ruin, whereas the Cross of Christ leads to an encounter with Him," he added.

Bishops' Views On Pope

Even as the Holy Father is trying to strengthen and galvanize the Catholic Church, the changes that he has initiated have driven conservatives and reformers farther apart. This surfaced when The Catholic University of America hosted two cardinals to share their thoughts on what can be done to maintain the core of Catholicism, and how Pope Francis can lead the church in the 21st century.

Speaking at a university forum in Tyler, Texas, German Cardinal Walter Kasper said Francis "wants to initiate a new beginning for the church."

"Pope Francis was elected pope in order to lead the church out of the crisis which has become evident," said Cardinal Kasper, 81.

The reform-minded prelate acknowledged that Francis "is a pope of surprises," and that there are some who "do not really trust this new style."

"For more people, it's the beginning of a new spring," Kasper said said. "For others, it's a temporary cold spell."

Fellow German Cardinal Gerhard Muller, 66, reflected on Pope Francis' use of the expression "reverence for truth."

"Perhaps reverence for truth also ... includes the skill of learning how to receive traditional wisdom," said Muller, a traditionalist.

"The truth must be translated in a way that offers the opportunity for people to give of themselves unreservedly," he said. "One cannot live in the freedom of truth unless one has given oneself to the truth. This is the point of Christian truth."

The two German cardinals arrived in the U.S. at a time of public upheaval in the church as some conservative Church leaders have spoken out against Pope Francis. One of the opposing voices is that of U.S. Cardinal Raymond Burke, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, who said in a recent interview that "there is a strong sense that the church is like a ship without a rudder."

Following last month's Extraordinary Synod of Catholic Bishops at the Vatican, church leaders are divided on how the 2,000-year-old faith should respond to such issues as gay marriage and divorce.

Last week, Pope Francis raised many eyebrows when he said that evolution is "not inconsistent with the notion of creation."

Later, he called for reforms in the annulment process for divorced Catholics, saying the current procedure is lengthy and at times unfairly expensive.