Addressing an inter-religious group of young people in Singapore on September 13, Pope Francis drew heavily on the nation’s multi-religious nature:
If we start to fight amongst ourselves and say “my religion is more important than yours, my religion is true, yours is not,” where will that lead us? Where? It’s okay to discuss [between religions].
Continuing, Francis declared that each religion is a means to attain God, stating highly controversially:
Every religion is a way to arrive at God. There are different languages to arrive at God, but God is God for all. And how is God God for all? We are all sons and daughters of God. But my god is more important than your god, is that true?
There is only one God and each of us has a language to arrive at God. Sikh, Muslim, Hindu, Christian, they are different paths.
His remarks were given in Italian – “Tutte le religioni sono un cammino per arrivare a Dio” – and translated into English by his assistant for the assembled crowd in Singapore’s Catholic Junior College.
Francis’ original Italian translates to “every religion is a way to arrive at God,” or in the slightly more natural English styling: “all religions are a way to arrive at God.”
The instant translation provided line-by-line by his translator was “every religion is a way to arrive at God.”
However, the Holy See Press Office has published a markedly different and misleading translation of the papal comments in the English transcript of his meeting. The Vatican’s official English version reads: “Religions are seen as paths trying to reach God.”
The difference is notable, and the online transcript of Francis’ remarks appear as far less controversial or problematic than his actual remarks.
Many online have located the English translation and are attempting to downplay the instant controversy which has blown up following the remarks. Such individuals are arguing that it is the English translation online which is correct, rather than Francis’ actual words which can be heard in the video contained in this report.
It appears that only the English translation has been subject to the worst of the Press Office’s heavy mis-transcribing issue. The Italian transcript, Spanish, French, and Polish versions conform to Francis’ actual words. The Portuguese version differs slightly from reality, with the transcription reading: “All religions are a way of getting closer to God.”
Others such as Inside the Vatican’s managing editor Matt Gaspers, noting the Press Office’s different English version, have described it as “an obvious attempt at damage control.”
While English is not the first language in the Vatican, it has rapidly become a widely-spoken de facto second language of late.
This is partly due to the heavy predominance of English-speakers from America making use of the Vatican’s online news portals, and the numerous Catholic English-speaking news outlets.
But the Holy See Press Office has a troubled record when it comes to the official version of Pope Francis’ remarks, especially in its English-language translations.
In recent days, it was highlighted how the English translation of Francis’ July letter on the role of literature in formation used the non-Christian dating notation “BCE” instead of the Catholic style of “Before Christ.” Once again it was only the English version which contained the terminology, with the other languages using the classical and Catholic-oriented “BC.”
Similar peculiarities were seen during the 2014 Synod on the Family, when the English version of the interim report downplayed the language on homosexuality, whilst the Italian original was far more controversial. The English translation referenced “providing for” homosexuals rather than “welcoming” them, the latter of which is a more literal translation of “accogliere,” the word in the relatio’s official Italian version.
A few weeks later a similar thing happened, with the Press Office watering down the English version of the final document of the Synod to remove an explicit defense of marriage between one man and one woman.
Fast-forward to 2020 and the Press Office issued an order for its staff to keep silent in the wake of international furor over Pope Francis’ comments supporting same-sex unions.
The translation errors in the English-language emanating from the Press Office appear set to continue the custom of many years.