--- description: Don't believe most of what you read about the Pope title: Pope Francis: Media Gets It Wrong on Evolution and Creationism image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt796c73ecbfe3a049/698763255f570f8c24b12f74/pope-francis7.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [faith](/tag/faith/) ## faith Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Sorry, But Media Coverage of Pope Francis is Papal Bull by [Elizabeth Dias](/author/elizabeth-dias/) ## Elizabeth Dias Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Oct 29, 2014 3:52 PM CUT  Pope Francis leaves at the end of his general audience at St Peter's square on Oct. 29, 2014 at the Vatican. Pope Francis leaves at the end of his general audience at St Peter's square on Oct. 29, 2014 at the Vatican.Gabriel Bouys—AFP/Getty Images by [Elizabeth Dias](/author/elizabeth-dias/) ## Elizabeth Dias Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Oct 29, 2014 3:52 PM CUT It is official: the media has gone bananas in its coverage of Pope Francis. The OMG-Pope-Francis-Supports-Evolution story of the past two days is just the latest example. Almost every news outlet, major and minor, has plastered Pope Francis’ name across the interwebs and proclaimed he has finally planted the Catholic Church in the evolution camp of the creation-evolution debate. The only problem? Almost every outlet has got the story wrong, proving once again that the mainstream media has nearly no understanding of the Church. And that madness shows no signs of stopping. Pope Francis’ real role in this evolution hubbub was small. He spoke, as Popes do, to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences on Monday, which had gathered to discuss “Evolving Topics of Nature,” and he affirmed what Catholic teaching has been for decades. “God is not a divine being or a magician, but the Creator who brought everything to life,” he [said](http://ncronline.org/news/vatican/pope-francis-evolution-not-inconsistent-notion-creation "undefined"). “Evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation, because evolution requires the creation of beings that evolve.” Anyone who knows anything about Catholic history knows that a statement like this is nothing new. Pope Pius XII wrote an encyclical “[Humani Generis](http://www.vatican.va/holy%5Ffather/pius%5Fxii/encyclicals/documents/hf%5Fp-xii%5Fenc%5F12081950%5Fhumani-generis%5Fen.html "undefined")” in 1950 affirming that there was no conflict between evolution and Catholic faith. Pope John Paul II reaffirmed that, stressing that evolution was [more than a hypothesis](http://www.ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/jp961022.htm "undefined"), in 1996\. Pope Benedict XVI hosted a conference on the nuances of creation and evolution in 2006\. There’s an [official book](http://www.amazon.com/Creation-Evolution-Conference-Benedict-Gandolfo/dp/1586172344 "undefined") on the event for anyone who wants to know more. Pope Francis’ comments Monday even came as he [was unveiling a new statue](http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-unveils-bust-of-benedict-xvi-at-scien "undefined") of Pope Benedict XVI, honoring him for his leadership. None of that seems to matter to the media; the internet exploded all the same. Site after site after site ramped up the Pope’s words and took them out of context. Headlines like these added drama: [NPR](http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/10/28/359564982/pope-says-god-not-a-magician-with-a-magic-wand "undefined"): “Pope Says God Not ‘A Magician, With A Magic Wand.’” [Salon](http://www.salon.com/2014/10/28/pope%5Ffrancis%5Fbelieves%5Fin%5Fevolution%5Fand%5Fbig%5Fbang%5Ftheory%5Fgod%5Fis%5Fnot%5Fa%5Fmagician%5Fwith%5Fa%5Fmagic%5Fwand/ "undefined"): “Pope Francis schools creationists.” [U.S. News and World Report](http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/10/28/pope-francis-backs-the-big-bang-theory-evolution "undefined"): “Pope Francis Backs the Big Bang Theory, Evolution” (with a subhed: “Also, the pontiff says he’s not a communist”). [Huffington Post](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/27/pope-francis-evolution%5Fn%5F6057378.html "undefined"). [Sydney _Morning Herald_](world/evolution-is-real-and-god-is-no-wizard-says-pope-francis-20141029-11dcon.html "undefined"). [_Telegraph_](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/the-pope/11192802/Pope-Francis-says-Big-Bang-theory-and-evolution-compatible-with-divine-Creator.html "undefined"). [USA Today](http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/10/28/pope-francis-evolution-big-bang/18053509/ "undefined"). [New York _Post_](http://nypost.com/2014/10/28/pope-francis-evolution-big-bang-do-not-contradict-gods-existence/ "undefined"). The list goes on and on. Only [_Slate_](http://www.slate.com/blogs/the%5Fslatest/2014/10/28/pope%5Fevolution%5Ffrancis%5Fstatement%5Fon%5Fscience%5Fechoes%5Fearlier%5Fchurch%5Fpronouncements.html "undefined") did its homework. Wednesday morning the stories continued with new, analytical twists. [The New Republic](http://www.newrepublic.com/article/120024/pope-francis-embraces-evolution-science-why-cant-gop "undefined") came out with a story titled, “The Pope Has More Faith Than the GOP in Science.” The [Washington Post](http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/10/29/pope-francis-may-believe-in-evolution-but-42-percent-of-americans-do-not/ "undefined") posted a piece, “Pope Francis may believe in evolution, but 42 percent of Americans do not.” It doesn’t seem to matter that Pope Benedict XVI called the debate between evolution an creation an “absurdity” in 2007\. [MSNBC](http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/pope-francis-god-not-magician-magic-wand "undefined") opened its piece saying, “Pope Francis made a significant rhetorical break with Catholic tradition Monday by declaring that the theories of evolution and the Big Bang are real.” [NBCNews](http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/pope-francis-evolution-big-bang-theory-are-real-n235696 "undefined") called the Pope’s statement, “a theological break from his predecessor Benedict XVI, a strong exponent of creationism.” This embarrassing narrative repeats itself over and over in Francis coverage. It happened last week when the Pope, again, voiced the Church’s [long-standing](http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/death-penalty-capital-punishment/catholic-campaign-to-end-the-use-of-the-death-penalty.cfm "undefined") opposition to the death penalty (having also done so in [June](http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/papal-message-reaffirms-call-to-abolish-death-penalty/ "undefined"), and after John Paul discussed the topic at length in an entire encyclical on being consistently pro-life in 1995). It happened at the Synod of the Bishops on the family, when the [bishops talked about welcoming gays](http://time.com/3502522/pope-francis-vatican-catholic-church-homosexuality/ "undefined") and the media whipped that up into an inaccurate story about an enormous policy shift toward gay marriage. That’s dangerous, especially because this furor seems to occur most often when hot-button Western political issues can be tied to the Pope’s statements—evolution, death penalty, gay marriage. Wednesday morning, Pope Francis asked for prayers for 43 Mexican students who were burned alive by drug traffickers. It is unlikely that that will get the same pickup. Moral of this story: Don’t believe most of what you read about the Vatican. Papal coverage has gone wild. ### The Most Surprising Photos of Pope Francis  The wind lifts Pope Francis' mantle as he delivers his speech in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, on Sept. 26, 2015. Tony Gentile—AP  Pope Francis looks at the Statue of Liberty from the window of a helicopter on his way to the John F. Kennedy International Airport, in New York City, on Sept. 26, 2015. L'Osservatore Romano/AP  A Pope Francis mannequin rides around in a car in Times Square as New York City waits for the arrival of the Pope to the city, on Sept. 24, 2015. Timothy A. Clary—AFP/Getty Images  Kaydn Dorsey, 4, and Lionel Perkins, 4, draw on a coloring sheet bearing the image of Pope Francis as they wait for him to arrive on a visit to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington in Washington, on Sept. 24, 2015. David Goldman—Reuters  Nuns with the Hospitaler Sisters of Mercy in Pleasantville, N.J., pose for a selfie with a cutout of Pope Francis, at the World Meeting of Families conference, in Philadelphia, on Sept. 22, 2015. Matt Rourke—AP  Pope Francis blows out the candles of a birthday cake to celebrate his 78th birthday during a general audience at the Vatican on Dec. 17, 2014. Osservatore Romano/AFP/Getty Images  Paying the bill at Rome's Domus Internationalis Paulus VI hotel, where Pope Francis stayed as a cardinal before entering the conclave and being elected pope. Osservatore Romano/AP  Welcoming Pope emeritus Benedict XVI as he returns to the Vatican from the pontifical summer residence of Castel Gandolfo. Osservatore Romano/AP  Holding a disabled child after celebrating Easter Mass. Alessandro di Meo—ANSA/Zuma Press  Pope Francis masks in a factory in Brazil, where the Pontiff took his first overseas trip. Christophe Simon—AFP/Getty Images  Leading the Worldwide Eucharistic adoration at the Vatican. Alessandra Benedetti—Corbis  A gust of wind blows the pope's mantle. Alessandra Tarantino—AP  Attending the opening of the Pastoral Convention of the Diocese of Rome. Stefano Rellandini—Reuters  Leaving a welcoming ceremony at Guanabara Palace in Rio de Janeiro. Ricardo Moraes—Reuters  Greeting the weekly General Audience. Stefano Rellandini—Reuters  Pointing to the statue of Our Lady of Aparecida from the balcony of the Aparecida basilica in Brazil. Domenico Stinellis—AP  A Catholic faithful in Brazil bears a sticker of Pope Francis on his forehead. Ueslei Marcelino—Reuters  Images of Pope Francis projected onto screens at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. Paulo Whitaker— Reuters  Departing Rio de Janeiro. Ricardo Moraes—Reuters  A stray dog walks across the stage near the altar where Pope Francis celebrates the World Youth Day's closing Mass on the Copacabana beachfront. Victor R. Caivano—AP  Listening to confessions of young people in a park in Rio de Janeiro. L'Osservatore Romano—EPA  Posing with youths in Saint Peter's Basilica. L'Osservatore Romano—EPA  Greeting the faithful on a rainy day during the General Audience. Fabio Frustaci—Eidon Press/Zuma Press  Arriving to lead his General Audience in a firefighter's helmet. Stefano Rellandini—Reuters  A quiet moment after meeting with Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo at the Vatican. Max Rossi—Reuters  Marking the 110th anniversary UNITALSI, a Catholic organization dedicated to helping the sick. Francesco Zizola—NOOR for TIME  A private Audience with Russian President Vladimir Putin. L'Osservatore Romano/AP  Keeping warm during a General Audience. Alessandra Tarantino—AP  Comforting a disfigured man at the end of his General Audience. Claudio Peri—EPA  Blessing a sick man with deformed facial features. Evandro Inetti—Zuma Press  Visiting the parish of the Sant'Alfonso Maria de Liguori during the Epiphany day. L'Osservatore Romano—AFP/Getty Images  Reacting to devotees at a weekly General Audience. Alessandro Bianchi—Reuters  A seagull attacks a dove released during a prayer conducted by Pope Francis. Alessandro Bianchi—Reuters  A scarf is tossed at Pope Francis by a faithful. Tony Gentile—Reuters  Italian artist Mauro Pallotta's superhero rendering of Pope Francis in a street near St. Peter's Basilica. Alessandra Benedetti—Corbis  Blowing a kiss to pilgrims gathered at Saint Peter's Square. Vincenzo Pinto—AFP/Getty Images  Meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama in the private library of the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City. Vatican Pool/Contrasto/Redux  With Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at the Vatican. Alessandra Benedetti—Vatican Pool/Corbis  A wind gust lifts Pope Francis's mantle as he arrives at the traditional Washing of the Feet during Holy Thursday. Alberto Pizzoli—AFP/Getty Images  Kissing a man's at the traditional Washing of the Feet. Alberto Pizzoli—AFP/Getty Images  Visitors take photos of Pope Francis as he speaks from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. Michael Sohn—AP _Read next:_ [_Southern Baptists Strike a Different Tone than Catholics in Conference_](http://time.com/3544312/baptist-conference-gays-lesbians-bishops-pope-francis/?xid=time%5Freadnext "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3545844/pope-francis-evolution-creationism/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3545844/pope-francis-evolution-creationism/"},"headline":"Sorry, But Media Coverage of Pope Francis is Papal Bull","datePublished":"2014-10-29T15:52:01.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T05:07:14.731Z","description":"The \"Pope Francis supports evolution\" story is just the latest example of the press getting the Catholic Church completely wrong","url":"https://time.com/3545844/pope-francis-evolution-creationism/","keywords":["faith"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt796c73ecbfe3a049/698763255f570f8c24b12f74/pope-francis7.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Elizabeth Dias","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/elizabeth-dias/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt796c73ecbfe3a049/698763255f570f8c24b12f74/pope-francis7.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Pope Francis leaves at the end of his general audience at St Peter's square on Oct. 29, 2014 at the Vatican.","caption":"Pope Francis leaves at the end of his general audience at St Peter's square on Oct. 29, 2014 at the Vatican.","creditText":"Gabriel Bouys—AFP/Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/world/","name":"World"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/faith/","name":"faith"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3545844/pope-francis-evolution-creationism/","name":"Sorry, But Media Coverage of Pope Francis is Papal Bull"}}]}] ```