"Evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation." - This is Pope Francis reflections on creationism debate which has been around ever since the start of history. The Catholic Church's leader made these comments at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. During his speech, the pope, who took over the position form Pope Benefict in 2013 also declared that the Big Bang Theory and the theory of evolution are real. Before violent reactions from religion purists, there's more to what Pope Francis said.
Although he sided with the scientists regarding the creation of earth and human life, he also insisted that the separation of lands and physical and mental evolution of humans happened because God created them in the first places.
"He created human beings and let them develop according to the internal laws that he gave to each one so they would reach their fulfilment," Pope Francis explained.
"The Big Bang, which today we hold to be the origin of the world, does not contradict the intervention of the divine creator but, rather, requires it.
"Evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation, because evolution requires the creation of beings that evolve."
These are surprising words from Pope Francis, especially with the fact that his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, has been one of those who championed the idea of natural selection. Also, science and religion have been clashing for the longest time and it could be that there's no chance that they will meet like parallel line.
Pope Francis also went on to say that God isn't some kind of magician.
"When we read about Creation in Genesis, we run the risk of imagining God was a magician, with a magic wand able to do everything. But that is not so," the Argentinian pope said.
Pope Francis reflection isn't the first from a personnel of the Catholic Church. Pope Pius XII, who served from 1939 to 1958, also became controversial for promulgating the Humani Generis that acknowledged "that evolution might accurately describe the biological origins of human life."
