Dear Mateo:

One should immediately suspect any questionable quote especially when it never gives a source. But, even when these spurious quotes give a source, one must check out to be sure the source actually exists.

There is a wonderful webpage that exposes these fake quotes and proves that they are fake: Getting to the Source of Erroneous Quotes. The owner of this Christian Apologetics site is unfortunately no longer able to update it and has offered it to anyone who wants it. I think we will place this website on our servers.

Anyway, as to the "what if" you need to remember that this is disordered thinking. One can go nuts thinking about the "what ifs". The "what if" mentality is a demonic trick on us to get us to doubt our faith. DO NOT GIVE THE DEVIL THE OPPORUNITY.

You are NOT going to hell because you are confused by "what ifs". This is not a mortal sin, and even if it was, forgiveness is always available in the Sacrament of Confession.

Being plagued by "what if" thoughts like this is either a result of obsessive-compulsive disorder, or a demonic attack placing these thoughts in your head, or a combination of both.

The solution is the same: (2 Corinthians 10:5) "We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ."

When these disordered thoughts come, take them captive in obedience to Christ. A prayer like the following may be helpful:

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, strengthened by the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Blessed Michael the Archangel, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints and Angels of Heaven, and powerful in the holy authority of His Name, I reject this thought and feeling of     [list for describe thought/feeling]    which is contrary to God’s will. I choose only thoughts in harmony with the Holy Spirit, and I cover my thought life with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Deal with the FACT, not your emotions. You know some of the facts of why this quote is fake. Deal with those facts. Tell yourself, "I KNOW ______" and not "I FEEL ____"

Now there is a faith issue here. Trust the God knows what He is doing. He protects His Church. What if the Pope had said this thing? Well, most likely it is being misinterpreted and quoted out of context. Or maybe the Pope was merely make a statement of parody. There can be a millions reasons. But the bottomline is that we have indeed had corrupt Popes, yet the gates of hell do not prevail against the Church.

So what if the Pope Leo said this (which he did not). He is just a man and can say stupid things like anyone else. A Pope blathering stupid opinions is just stupid opinions, it is not infallible proclamation.

To counter your scrupulosity you need to arm yourself with the facts: the nature of infallibility so that you know that if a Pope does say something stupid it does not mean anything and does not qualify as infallible or even official (infallibility requires strict criteria), learn the facts of the thing you are worrying about, and remember that God is not a liar and the Church is protected and Holy even if some of her members do things stupid or even evil things.

When anti-Catholics come up with these fake quotes and histories, respond: "Nice theory, prove it" and know that even if they are correct, so what? There is an explanation and in any event the Church is Holy in spite of it.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary