Vatican City, Jul 1, 2018 / 04:40 am
Catholics have no reason to fear death, because Christ the Lord has power over death; instead, they should fear sin, which hardens and kills the soul, Pope Francis said Sunday.
"Jesus is the Lord, and before Him physical death is like sleep: there is no reason to despair. A different [thing] is the death to be afraid of: that of the heart hardened by evil! Of that yes, we must be afraid!" the pope said July 1. "It is the death of the heart."
"But even sin, even the mummified heart, is never the last word for Jesus, because He has brought us the infinite mercy of the Father."
Francis explained that "even if we fell down, [Jesus'] soft and strong voice reaches us: 'I tell you: get up' It is beautiful to hear those words of Jesus addressed to each one of us: 'I tell you: stand up! Go. Stand up, be brave, get up!'"