Pope at ‘Angelus’ says gossip is poison that kills

February 17, 2014 - Pope Francis on Sunday urged Christians to avoid all forms of slander in order to live a genuine Christian life. “It’s so rotten, this gossip. At the beginning, it seems to be something enjoyable and fun, like a piece of candy. But at the end, it fills the heart with bitterness and also poisons us,” Pope Francis said during his weekly midday ‘Angelus’ prayer with thousands of pilgrims and visitors in Rome’s St. Peter’s Square. “I tell you the truth, I am convinced that if each one of us would purposely avoid gossip, at the end, we would become a saint! It’s a beautiful path!” he told the crowd speaking in Italian from the window of his apartment overlooking the square. “Do we want to become saints? Yes or no?” he queried as the crowds replied, “yes!” “Ok, agreed then - No gossip!” the Pope said. Reflecting on Sunday’s Gospel reading, the Pope said Jesus speaks about the fifth commandment, “do not kill,” and goes on to add, “but I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be guilty before the court.” “With this, Jesus reminds us that even words can kill!” Slander and gossip kill the reputation of the person, the Pope explained. But Jesus indicates to his followers the way beyond slander and gossip – the love of neighbour which, he said, is the “the perfection of love: a love which goes beyond all measure and calculation.” This Christian path of loving one’s neighbor is “so fundamental that Jesus comes to say that our relationship with God cannot be honest if we do not want to make peace with our neighbor.” The Pope said that good and honest behavior of a Christian is not born of simply disciplinary observance and exterior conduct, but requires the profound motivation of the Wisdom of God, which can be received by the grace of the Holy Spirit.