Roma (AsiaNews) – Pope Leo XIV spoke at Rome’s Verano Cemetery this afternoon, where he led Mass on the day the Catholic Church dedicated to the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed.
In his address, the pontiff said that, “The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them’ (Wis 3:1). This is the promise of salvation, which, especially, on this day becomes the heart of the supplication we raise to the Lord of life for all the faithful departed. “
In his homily, Leo highlighted the common thread of the Beatitudes, which links the Solemnity of All Saints, celebrated yesterday, with the remembrance of those who are no longer physically among us.
“The Beatitudes are the way to a full and fulfilled life, now and forever,” the pope explained. “When we hear them proclaimed in the Liturgy, it is the Risen Lord who speaks to us.”
In fact, the “announcement of salvation, which is the Beatitudes, resonates with particular spiritual force in a cemetery, which is like a threshold between the hereafter and the beyond. Blessed are those who live according to this way, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”.
On the Commemoration of All Souls, Leo XIV had once more a special thought for those who today are grieving the loss of lives taken away, absurdly, by wars.
“Among the eight Beatitudes in the Gospel of Matthew, there is one that resonates with us in a particular way today: ‘Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted’ (Mt: 5:4).”
“At this moment, we wish to pray for all those who have recently lost a loved one, especially those from whom a loved one was torn away by the senseless violence of war. May the tears of so many mothers, children, and elderly people,” the pontiff implored, “touch the consciences of those who have the power to silence the weapons!”
“Dear brothers and sisters,” the Pope said, “faith in Christ tells us that our bond with the faithful departed is not broken, but transformed. Through prayers of intercession, we accompany our loved ones towards full communion with the Lord, a communion whose foretaste we already truly catch here, in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.”
“Encouraged by this hope-filled faith, we continue our earthly walk, awaiting the day when He will wipe away every tear, when ‘there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, [for] the old order has passed away’ (Rev 21:4)”.
