VATICAN - The Pope at the Angelus says there is no need to fear the death of the body “because it is sleep from which one day we will reawaken. Whereas the death to be feared is that of the soul” - Appeal for peace in the West Bank: may bloodshed be stopped, may efforts to provide humanitarian aid be intensified and may negotiations resume immediately

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Once again on Sunday November 5, following the commemoration of all the dead on All Souls Day, death seen with the eyes of faith was the subject of Pope Benedict’s midday Angelus reflection. Recalling that today’s so-called "civilisation of well-being" often seeks to remove from the mind all thought of death, the Pope said, “Death in fact is part of life, and not only at the end, but, if we think more deeply, actually every instant. Nevertheless despite the many the distractions, the loss of a dear one reminds us of the "problem", making death appear as a radically hostile presence, contrary to our natural calling to life and happiness.”
Jesus, through His teaching, but above all with His own death, “revolutionised the impact of death” the Holy Father recalled. “The Son of God wished in this way to share to the full in our human condition in order to reopen it to hope. In ultimate analysis He was born so He could die and set us free from the slavery of death. Since then death is not the same: it has been so to say deprived of its "poison". God’s love, working in Jesus, gave new meaning to the whole of human existence, including death which it transformed … The death of the body is not to be feared, faith reminds us. Instead the death to be feared, is that of the soul which Revelation calls "second death". In fact those who die unrepentant in a state of mortal sin, locked in proud rejection of God’s love, exclude themselves from the kingdom of life.”
The Pope invoked the intercession of Most Holy Mary and Saint Joseph to obtain from God the grace “to prepare serenely to leave this world whenever He calls us, with the hope of living eternally with Him, in company of the saints and our dear ones”.
After the Angelus prayer the Pope made an appeal for peace in the Gaza Strip: “I follow with deep concern reports on the grave deterioration of the situation in the Gaza Strip and I wish to express my closeness to the civilians who are suffering the consequences of these acts of violence. I ask you to join my prayer that almighty and all-merciful God may enlighten the authorities of Israel and Palestine and those of countries with particular responsibility in the region, so they will take action to stop the bloodshed, intensify initiatives of humanitarian aid and encourage an immediate return to direct, serious and concrete dialogue.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 6/11/2006 - righe 31, parole 441)
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Once again on Sunday November 5, following the commemoration of all the dead on All Souls Day, death seen with the eyes of faith was the subject of Pope Benedict’s midday Angelus reflection. Recalling that today’s so-called "civilisation of well-being" often seeks to remove from the mind all thought of death, the Pope said, “Death in fact is part of life, and not only at the end, but, if we think more deeply, actually every instant. Nevertheless despite the many the distractions, the loss of a dear one reminds us of the "problem", making death appear as a radically hostile presence, contrary to our natural calling to life and happiness.”
Jesus, through His teaching, but above all with His own death, “revolutionised the impact of death” the Holy Father recalled. “The Son of God wished in this way to share to the full in our human condition in order to reopen it to hope. In ultimate analysis He was born so He could die and set us free from the slavery of death. Since then death is not the same: it has been so to say deprived of its "poison". God’s love, working in Jesus, gave new meaning to the whole of human existence, including death which it transformed … The death of the body is not to be feared, faith reminds us. Instead the death to be feared, is that of the soul which Revelation calls "second death". In fact those who die unrepentant in a state of mortal sin, locked in proud rejection of God’s love, exclude themselves from the kingdom of life.”
The Pope invoked the intercession of Most Holy Mary and Saint Joseph to obtain from God the grace “to prepare serenely to leave this world whenever He calls us, with the hope of living eternally with Him, in company of the saints and our dear ones”.
After the Angelus prayer the Pope made an appeal for peace in the Gaza Strip: “I follow with deep concern reports on the grave deterioration of the situation in the Gaza Strip and I wish to express my closeness to the civilians who are suffering the consequences of these acts of violence. I ask you to join my prayer that almighty and all-merciful God may enlighten the authorities of Israel and Palestine and those of countries with particular responsibility in the region, so they will take action to stop the bloodshed, intensify initiatives of humanitarian aid and encourage an immediate return to direct, serious and concrete dialogue.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 6/11/2006 - righe 31, parole 441)