Pope's advisers urge scrapping of 'limbo' for babies

THE Pope has been advised by his own theologians to scrap the centuries old belief "in limbo", the resting place for souls of children who have not been baptised.

The recommendation came yesterday from the 30-strong International Theological Commission which had been meeting at the Vatican all week as part of the investigation.

For centuries Catholics have believed that the souls of babies who die without being baptised remain in limbo - between heaven and hell - as they still have the "stain of original sin".

The theological concept inspired Medieval writers and artists such as Dante.

But the modern Catholic Church is concerned about the parents of stillborn babies, whose grief could be compounded if they believed the souls of their children were to be excluded from heaven.

The Catholic Church is aware of the fact that Muslims believe that all children go to Heaven.

It had been thought that Pope Benedict XVI himself would announce the decision to scrap the concept, but instead it will remain in place until studies have been formally completed.

The commission was led by Cardinal William Levada, an American who is head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith. The commission has been meeting on and off since called by the late Pope John Paul II. His successor, Pope Benedict, is known not to be in favour of the concept, which has been part of Catholic teachings since the Middle Ages.

In 1984, when Pope Benedict was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, and was asked his views on limbo, he said: "It is a theological hypothesis. It is linked to the cause of original sin but many babies die because they are victims."

Yesterday, one of the commission members, who asked not be named, said: "Limbo is not essential nor is it necessary and can be abandoned quite easily with no problems to the faith."

Pope Benedict yesterday attended the final Mass of the commission at the Vatican's Redeemer Mother Chapel at dawn and made no reference to limbo in his sermon.

Another commission member, Monsignor Bruno Forte, said: "We are not talking about breaking the great traditions of faith. What we are trying to do is eliminate the use of words and metaphors that do not display the richness of the message of hope brought by Jesus Christ.

"Original sin is reality that shows the frailty of the human condition. In the case of a child who dies without being baptised, through no fault of his own, then it must be the saving power of Christ triumphs over the power of evil.

"At the final Mass no mention was made by Pope Benedict of limbo and the final document is still being drawn up and it will be a few months yet before it is completed. We are talking at least three months before it is ready to be signed so I would not expect anything until next year."

Although there is no basis for it in Scripture, the traditional concept of limbo is described as the temporary resting place of "the souls of good persons who died before the resurrection of Jesus" (limbus patrum) and the permanent home in the afterlife of "the unbaptised who die in infancy without having been freed from original sin" (limbus infantium).

Next worlds

HELL: A place of pain and torment where the souls of wrongdoers are sent to endure eternal damnation.

PURGATORY: In Roman Catholic teaching, this is the place where the souls of the dead are purified and achieve holiness before they are able to enter Heaven.

LIMBO: Roman Catholics believe this is where the souls of unbaptised but innocent and righteous people, infants or virtuous individuals go after death.

HEAVEN: A state of afterlife that is a continuation of existence with God and the angels and is where the souls of baptised believers go.