Limbo
LIMBO
BASIC R.C. BELIEF A place or state where souls of O.T. saints were detained until the Resurrection of Christ, and a place or state of natural happiness for unbaptized babies (CATHOLIC WORD BOOK, Knights of Columbus, p. 27). Although never formally defined, it has been the universal Roman Catholic belief for centuries.
POST VATICAN II There has never been an official statement doing away with this doctrine, but it has been disregarded by most Roman Catholics today, the majority of whom nevertheless, insist on immediate baptism for any infant in danger of death.
One suggested theological solution to the plight of unbaptized babies is to apply to them the baptism of desire since, it is argued, they would have desired baptism had they lived to maturity.