Pope’s Sunday ‘Angelus’ of Nov. 15

(November 16, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI is reminding Christians that creation is finite and passing, but that God's word remains forever and raises us to eternal life as well. The Pope made the remark on Sunday before praying the weekly midday ‘Angelus’ with the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square. Reflecting on Sunday’s liturgy, and the forthcoming end of the liturgical year, he reflected on Jesus' words that the "whole universe, the entire cosmos" will pass away, but God’s words will not pass as they are eternal. He explained that all those who hear the Word of God, "receive it and bear fruit" are "part of the Kingdom of God, that is, they live under his lordship; they remain in the world, but are no longer of the world." "In them,” he said, “is a seed of eternity, a principle of transformation that already now is manifested in a good life, animated by charity, and in the end will produce the resurrection of the flesh." This is the "power of the Word of Christ," the Pope pointed out.
After the ‘Angelus’ prayer, Pope Benedict recalled Sunday’s World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims and offered special prayers for those injured and killed in these accidents. "As we commend their souls to the loving mercy of Almighty God, we also invoke his consolation upon their families and loved ones," the Holy Father said. "For those of you who have travelled long distances to be here today," he added, "I pray that you may have a safe homeward journey." November being the month of remembrance of the departed, Pope Benedict offered a special prayer for the souls in purgatory, as well as those remembered on Veterans Day, "who lost their lives in war."