Holy Father Pope Francis while addressing the faithful gathered at St. Peter’s Square, for the weekly General Audience, continued his catechesis on Christian hope and reminded that Jesus came to heal us and to save us from death. His Holiness explained the reality of death, which the modern world so often leaves us unprepared to face.
As reported by Vatican radio, Holy Father Pope Francis remarked that “Past civilizations had the courage to face death and older generations taught the younger to see that inescapable event as a call to live for something enduring, greater than themselves.” Further, His Holiness added, “It is Jesus, however, that ultimately helps us to confront this mystery and He shows us that it is natural to mourn the loss of a loved one, for he too wept at Lazarus’ death but he did not only mourn; he also prayed to the Father and called Lazarus from the tomb.”
His Holiness concluded his message by reminding the faithful of the Christian hope that “When we mourn; we know that Christ remains always close to us and one day , when we too face death, we will hear Jesus’ voice: “ I say to you, arise” (Mk 5:41)”.
