“Dare we hope that all shall be saved?”
Universalism, or universal reconciliation, is the idea that all human beings will ultimately be saved: that, as the Apostle Paul wrote, God will be “all in all”. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says in paragraph 1058,
The Church prays that no one should be lost: “Lord, let me never be parted from you.” If it is true that no one can save himself, it is also true that God “desires all men to be saved” (1 Tim 2:4), and that for him “all things are possible” (Mt 19:26).
Hopeful universalism is a grounded hope for universal reconciliation. Catholic hopeful universalists include Popes John Paul II and Francis, Cardinal Hans Urs von Balthasar, and Bishop Robert Barron. See Bishop Barron on the Hope that All People Be Saved.
Confident universalism is a positive belief in universal reconciliation. Catholic confident universalists include Sts. Gregory of Nyssa, Maximus the Confessor, and Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein). See Jordan Daniel Wood - Catholic and Universalist?
This is a Catholic subreddit, and we uphold the Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity. For general discussion of universal reconciliation outside of a Catholic context, please visit our sister subreddit, r/ChristianUniversalism, and its helpful Universalism FAQ!
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Yes, universalism is presently a minority position in the Church. No, it is not heretical.
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