Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV used his Wednesday General Audience to encourage people to reflect on death, saying that facing this reality can help us discover the true meaning of life and the power of Christ’s Resurrection.
Speaking to crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope said that in today’s world people often avoid thinking about death, yet doing so helps us make better choices about how we want to live. He explained that understanding our limited time on earth invites us to focus on what truly matters and to let go of what is unnecessary.
Pope noted that many societies in the past created rituals to honor the dead, while today death has almost become a taboo subject. He said that many avoid cemeteries or conversations about death because it disturbs their sense of comfort.
Reflecting on modern ideas, Pope Leo XIV also addressed the belief that technology might one day extend life indefinitely. He questioned whether science could ever defeat death or guarantee happiness in a life without an end. He reminded the faithful that humans are unique in their awareness of death, which can often lead to fear or attempts to ignore the reality of mortality.
Pope said Christianity offers a clear answer through the Resurrection of Christ. He explained that death is not the enemy of life but part of the journey toward eternal life. Christ’s Resurrection, he said, allows believers to see death as a passage into fullness and joy, not as a final defeat.
Pope stressed that only in the light of the Resurrection can we understand death with peace and even call it a sister, as St. Francis once did. He concluded that waiting for death with hope in Christ protects us from fear and prepares us for everlasting life.