In comments likely to enhance his progressive reputation, Pope Francis has written a long, open letter to the founder of La Repubblica newspaper, Eugenio Scalfari, stating that non-believers would be forgiven by God if they followed their consciences.
Pope tells atheists: You don't have to believe in God to go to heaven
If true and in context, I have to say I'd be rather disappointed in him...
Where to begin?
Firstly, the Pope refers us to our conscience.
What is necessary to understand here is that it is highly likely that there would be a differing outcome were the comparison to be between a well taught Catholic child (who has been trained to memorize the correct answers, and who can understand them) and a child who doesn't have that advantage.
Their consciences would likely be differing, and so would their actions when faced with a problem requiring a moral choice.
Against that, we have a God who is merciful, and who understands that the child without the training is subject to the morals of the adults around him.
And by God's grace, it is probable that as the child grows up, they will at some time encounter around them a problem, a circumstance, or a person, that is bigger and more powerful than they themselves are, and that they don't know how to handle.
And that's usually when God steps in:
When they need help,
when they can't manage,
and when they are ready to listen.
Hopefully they will see the opportunity before them, and begin to learn as an adult what they missed as a child.
I think that's what the Pope was referring to.