Pope’s Death Raising Eternity Questions

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

VATICAN CITY (Worthy News) – U.S. Evangelist Franklin Graham, who met Pope Francis last year, says the pontiff’s death has raised questions about where he and others will spend eternity.

“With the passing of the pope, many people may question where they will spend eternity. The truth is, religion cannot save you,” Graham stressed in a statement on social media.

“Attending church can’t save you. Salvation is not something you can earn, buy, or inherit. It is a free gift of God for those who put their faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. It is a decision that every person has to make for themselves,” he added.

His remarks came after the body of the late Pope Francis was transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Wednesday to lie in state until his funeral on Saturday morning.

With tens of thousands of people already gathering in the area, the Vatican did not rule out extending hours “for the faithful who wish to pay their respects to the late Pope” which had been scheduled

Wednesday from 11 a.m. to midnight; on Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to midnight; and on Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. “

In the weeks before his death, Pope Francis clarified that people should remember him as a pastor serving Christ.

CONSOLING CERTAINTY

Jesus,” Francis wrote, “gives us a consoling certainty: death is not the end of everything, but the beginning of something. It is a new beginning…because eternal life, which those who love already begin to experience on earth within the daily tasks of life — is beginning something that will never end.”

And, “It is precisely for this reason that it is a “new” beginning because we will live something we have never fully lived before: eternity,” he added.

Graham suggested that following Pope Francis’s death at age 88, it is crucial to remember that only faith in Jesus Christ is the way to Heaven.

“There aren’t many ways to Heaven, there is only one—by repenting of our sins and believing on Jesus Christ. Jesus came to this earth to save us from our sins. He shed His blood on a cross, died, was buried, and God raised Him to life on the third day. He’s alive today, and the Bible tells us one day He will return,” Graham stressed.

“Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’,” the evangelist added referring to John 14:6.

Franklin Graham, son of the legendary late Evangelist Billy Graham, stressed that “Every person has a soul that will live forever-either in the presence of God, or separated from God in a place the Bible calls Hell. Where you spend eternity depends on whether you have put your trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Pope, pastor, politician, or peasant- the way to God is the same.”

Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.

More Worthy News

Deadly New York Airport Collision Kills Two Pilots; Dramatic Recording Emerges As Airports Disrupted
Deadly New York Airport Collision Kills Two Pilots; Dramatic Recording Emerges As Airports Disrupted
Monday, March 23, 2026

Two pilots were killed and at least a dozen people were injured, including nine who were hospitalized, after an Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a fire truck while landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, authorities confirmed Monday, in a crash that shut down one of the United States’ busiest aviation hubs.

Israel’s Strategy Targeting Iranian Checkpoints May Open Door for Internal Uprising
Israel’s Strategy Targeting Iranian Checkpoints May Open Door for Internal Uprising
Monday, March 23, 2026

Israel’s expanding military campaign inside Iran is now focusing on key pressure points within the regime’s internal control system—specifically targeting checkpoints and street-level enforcement units—in what analysts believe could open the door for a broader uprising against the Islamic government, according to an exclusive report by the Epoch Times.

Trump Holds Off on Iran Energy Strikes as Backchannel Talks Intensify
Trump Holds Off on Iran Energy Strikes as Backchannel Talks Intensify
Monday, March 23, 2026

President Donald Trump announced Monday that the United States will delay planned military strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure for five days, signaling a potential diplomatic opening in a rapidly escalating Middle East conflict.

Pro-Kremlin Blogger Turns on Putin, Reportedly Confined to Psychiatric Facility
Pro-Kremlin Blogger Turns on Putin, Reportedly Confined to Psychiatric Facility
Monday, March 23, 2026

A prominent pro-Kremlin blogger who once championed Russia’s war effort has dramatically reversed course—publicly denouncing President Vladimir Putin before reportedly being placed in psychiatric care, according to a report by Deutsche Welle.

Slovenia Vote Too Close To Call As Orbán Ally Janša Challenges Liberal Government
Slovenia Vote Too Close To Call As Orbán Ally Janša Challenges Liberal Government
Monday, March 23, 2026

Slovenia, the birthplace of U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, held a closely contested parliamentary election Sunday, with populist opposition leader Janez Janša — an ally of Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán — running neck-and-neck with the ruling liberal party.

Opposition Figure Attacked, Orbán Booed As Hungary Election Tensions Rise
Opposition Figure Attacked, Orbán Booed As Hungary Election Tensions Rise
Monday, March 23, 2026

Hungary’s election campaign turned increasingly tense over the weekend as an opposition politician was attacked with a knife and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán faced loud protests during a campaign speech, underscoring deep divisions ahead of the April 12 vote.

Christian Sanitary Worker In Pakistan Faces Death Penalty In Blasphemy Case
Christian Sanitary Worker In Pakistan Faces Death Penalty In Blasphemy Case
Monday, March 23, 2026

A Christian sanitary worker in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad faces a possible death sentence after spending more than three years behind bars over alleged blasphemy against Islam.