Pope Francis has responded to the questions of a non-believer journalist, in a letter published on the front page of Rome-based daily La Repubblica.
The Pope, who has won praise for spontaneous and unusual moves during his six month papacy, was responding to editorials written by the daily’s founder and long-time editor Eugenio Scalfari, who posed a series of theological questions to the Pontiff in the paper over the summer.
To the 89-year-old Scalfari's question of whether someone without faith who commits a sin would be forgiven by the Christian God, Francis replied: "God forgives those who follow their conscience."
The Pope continued: “The question for those who do not believe in God is to follow their own conscience. Sin, even for a non-believer, is when one goes against one’s conscience.
“To listen and to follow your conscience means that you understand the difference between good and evil,” the Pope said.
Mr Scalfari said he had not expected the South American Pope to respond “so extensively and so affectionately, with such fraternal spirit”.
