April 11, 2011. (Romereports.com) During the Angelus, the pope spoke about life after death. Benedict XVI noted that the desire for eternity is in the heart of everyone.

Benedict XVI
“Death represents for us a wall we are unable to see over; even though our hearts reach out beyond, and even though we cannot know what it hides ... we imagine it, expressing our desire for eternity through symbols”

The pope acknowledged that for many it may be difficult to believe in life after death because it exceeds the bounds of reason and requires an effort of faith.

Benedict XVI
“Christ breaks down the wall of death, and in Him there resides the fullness of God, which is life, eternal life. Therefore death had no power over Him; the resurrection of Lazarus is a sign of his full dominion over mortal death, which is like sleep before God.”

Benedict XVI referred to sin as a spiritual death and explained that Jesus died on the cross to save us from this type of “death.”

Benedict XVI
“But there is another death, against which Christ fought hard; and for which he paid on the cross: spiritual death, sin, which threatens to ruin the existence of every man.”


Benedict XVI noted that the resurrection of Jesus opened the chance for all mankind to arrive in heaven.

The pope also remembered the anniversary of the plane crash that killed the president of Poland, Lech Kaczynski along with 96 other people as they traveled to commemorate the massacre of Katyn. Benedict XVI said the prayers of all the Polish people were bound together by this tragic event that occurred one year ago.

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