Pope Francis declares evolution and Big Bang theory are real and God is not 'a magician with a magic wand'

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/pope-francis-declares-evolution-and-big-bang-theory-are-right-and-god-isnt-a-magician-with-a-magic-9822514.html

• Adam Withnall 
• @adamwithnall 
• Tuesday 28 October 2014 09:43 GMT
• 821 comments

Pope Francis gestures during his audience with members of the Schoenstatt movement at the Paul VI hall on October 25, 2014 at the VaticanAFP/Getty Images

The theories of evolution and the Big Bang are real and God is not “a magician with a magic wand”, Pope Francis has declared.

Speaking at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Pope made comments which experts said put an end to the “pseudo theories” of creationism and intelligent design that some argue were encouraged by his predecessor, Benedict XVI.

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Francis explained that both scientific theories were not incompatible with the existence of a creator – arguing instead that they “require it”.

“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,” Francis said. He added: “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.