Question

An inverted cross near Pope Francis’ coffin is a satanic symbol.

Answer 1

This claim was posted on reddit and the image contains a Newsmax logo and it was posted on truth social. None of those sites are credible news sources. They are public forums where many conspiracy theories are posted and not fact checked. When I googled this claim about the cross, I found a Reuters fact check article that sheds light on this claim. This article does say that some people consider the upside down cross to be a satanic symbol. However, it doesn't specify who those people are. It then reports that the upside down crucifix is a symbol of Saint Peter. He was crucified and wanted to be crucified upside down because he didn't think he was worthy of being crucified the same way as Jesus. Since this image was at the St. Peter's Basilica it's more likely that the upside down cross represents St. Peter and not Satan.

https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/inverted-cross-near-pope-francis-coffin-was-catholic-symbol-not-satanic-one-2025-05-05/

Comments

Great answer! The source you linked was perfect, as it provided even more sources for certain topics regarding the reasoning for this claim.

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This is a great fact check—clear, well-researched, and super reasonable. You did a solid job calling out unreliable sources and backing up your explanation with a credible Reuters article. I really liked how you clarified the actual meaning behind the symbol without jumping to conclusions. Well done!

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Very strong response because just reading the claim, it sounded ridiculous. I like how you mentioned the sources you found and which ones you believed to be trustworthy. The article helped to clear up the reasoning for this and explain why others might have believed otherwise.

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Great fact check. The way you brought the evidences from the claim into the fact check was very strong.

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You explained this really well! I like how you broke down the credibility of the sources and brought in the historical context about Saint Peter. It makes the argument way more grounded and clear. The connection to St. Peter’s Basilica especially strengthens your point and helps clarify why the image was likely misunderstood. Solid job cutting through the misinformation and backing it up with a reputable fact-check.

Answer 2

Not only is this blatantly false, but even in the comments of the Reddit post posing as a source for your claim, the Reddit users explain that this is false.

Firstly, the upside down cross is not a satanic symbol. Though it has been adopted by some satanic groups, the roots of the upside down cross (known as the petrine cross) are deeply religious because it comes from the death of St. Peter, one of Jesus' disciples, who thought himself unworthy to be crucified as Jesus was, and so was crucified upside down.

The reason this symbol was near Pope Francis' casket (not a coffin, coffins have 6 sides, caskets have 4) is because the Catholic church considers St. Peter to have been the first pope, and as a result, this symbol pays homage to him within the basilica

https://www.revshirleymurphy.co.uk/post/st-peter-s-cross

https://www.catholic.com/tract/origins-of-peter-as-pope

https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/inverted-cross-near-pope-francis-coffin-was-catholic-symbol-not-satanic-one-2025-05-05/#:~:text=In%20the%20context%20of%20the,the%20Reuters%20Fact%20Check%20team.

Comments

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your fact check because it was clear and concise. You really made an effort to make sure that all the facts were correct so that no misinformation was spread. Misinformation is really easy to spread, especially on sites like Reddit. You made sure to get reputable sources that made everything check out and I appreciate that.

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The information on St. Peter's cross and the coffin/casket differences are insightful and incredibly necessary for the subject at hand. I think that this fact-check is fantastic. Well done!

Answer 3

The idea of an inverted cross being satanic comes from misinformation, Hollywood exaggerations, and lack of education around the Bible. It is true that many believe the upside down cross to represent satanism or a mockery of Christ--and use it as such--though the actual origins are completely different; the inverted cross references St. Peter's request as he believed himself unworthy of dying the same death as Jesus Christ. Since Catholics believe St. Peter to have been the first Pope, the inverted crucifix was fitting for the scene.
The origins of your claim do happen to align with a general misconception/idea so I can see where it might have appeared to be true, but reddit answers should always be followed up by checking against a more reliable source.
 

"Papacy." Encyclopaedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/topic/papacy. Accessed 9 May 2025.

"Saint Peter." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter#:~:text=Saint%20Peter%20(born%201%20BC,the%20first%20bishop%20of%20Antioch.

"Inverted Cross." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_cross#:~:text=Christian%20symbolism,-Main%20article:%20Cross&text=The%20inverted%20cross%20is%20traditionally,as%20a%20symbol%20of%20humility.

u/PerennialMemory. "Why Is the Inverted Cross Considered Satanic?" Reddit, r/religion, 8 Aug. 2020, https://www.reddit.com/r/religion/comments/i59d7h/why_is_the_inverted_cross_considered_satanic/.

Burnham, Jonathon. "The Upside-Down Cross: Satanic or Symbolic?" Catholic Answers, https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/the-upside-down-cross-satanic-or-symbolic.

Answer 4

The claim that an inverted cross near Pope Francis’ coffin is a satanic symbol is false. This misunderstanding stems from a conflation of two distinct uses of the inverted cross: one rooted in Christian tradition and the other in modern anti-Christian symbolism. Historically, the inverted cross is known as the Cross of Saint Peter or the Petrine Cross. According to Christian tradition, Saint Peter, one of Jesus's apostles and the first pope, was crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to die in the same manner as Jesus. This act symbolizes humility and martyrdom, and as a result, the inverted cross became a symbol associated with Saint Peter and the papacy. The Catholic Church has used the inverted cross in various contexts to honor Saint Peter. For example, Pope John Paul II used a chair adorned with the Petrine Cross during his visit to Israel in 2000 (Catholic News Agency, 2000; EWTN Library).

In contrast, the inverted cross has been adopted in modern times by some anti-Christian groups and in popular culture as a symbol of opposition to Christianity. This usage is a deliberate inversion of Christian symbols to convey rebellion or blasphemy. However, the modern appropriation does not negate the inverted cross's original and longstanding significance within Christian tradition (Encyclopedia Britannica; "Inverted Cross" - Encyclopedia of Christianity).

Therefore, the presence of an inverted cross in association with the Pope or the Vatican is not indicative of satanic symbolism. Instead, it reflects a deeply rooted Christian tradition honoring Saint Peter's humility and martyrdom. Misinterpretations often arise when symbols are viewed without understanding their historical and cultural contexts. For more information, see Catholic News Agency and Encyclopedia Britannica.

Answer 5

After checking the post, the inverted cross is most likely the Cross of Saint Peter and not meant to be any sort of satanic imagery. Given his status as the pope of the Catholic Church, it makes sense to utilize a symbol of humility out of respect for his passing.

https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/inverted-cross-near-pope-francis-coffin-was-catholic-symbol-not-satanic-one-2025-05-05/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_of_Saint_Peter#History

Answer 6

This claim is missing context. After researching, I've seen many people claim that the upside down crosses on and around Pope Francis' coffin are satanic symbols. The first claims about the upside down cross on his coffin is simply people viewing the coffin from behind where it would appear to be upside down. Many of the claims show the "proof" as images found online and stills from videos of the coffin being carried away from the camera. The claim about the upside down cross near the Pope's coffin are missing information about the crucifixion of St. Peter, a catholic saint who was crucified upside down. He asked to be crucified upside down so as to not put himself at the level of Jesus Christ. With this context, as St. Peter as one of Jesus' disciples, it makes sense why there are upside down crosses in these images as they honor the saint.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ParlerWatch/comments/1k8al19/anyone_got_a_hand_truck/

https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/inverted-cross-near-pope-francis-coffin-was-catholic-symbol-not-satanic-one-2025-05-05/#:~:text=Fact%20Check-,Fact%20Check%3A%20Inverted%20cross%20near%20Pope%20Francis'%20coffin%20was%20a,symbol%2C%20not%20a%20satanic%20one&text=Inverted%20crosses%20visible%20as%20Pope,not%20a%20reference%20to%20satanism.

https://www.mdrevelation.org/the-crucifixion-of-st-peter/