Pope's Audience: Don't fear the final judgment. Jesus will be at your side

As he addressed thousands of people in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis talked about the moment of final judgment. He explained that even though God will hold everyone accountable for what they've done or what they've failed to do, judgment should not be faced with fear. The Pope explained that at that very moment, Jesus will be there, at one's side, as an advocate.

SUMMARY OF CATECHESIS IN ENGLISH:

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

In our catechesis on the Creed, we now turn to the final article: "I believe inâ?¦ life everlastingâ?.  At Christâ??s coming in glory as judge of the living and the dead, we will be held accountable before God for the good we have done or failed to do in this life.

We tend to regard this final judgment with a certain trepidation, yet the Church invites us to see it as a source of consolation and joyful hope.  The early Christians celebrated this hope using the expression Maranatha to invoke Christâ??s return and the beginning of the great wedding feast of a humanity reconciled with God. 

At our judgment we will not be alone, for Jesus, our advocate with the the Father, will be at our side, together with all the saints. For, as he tells us, the Son was sent into the world in order to save it, and those who believe in him will not be condemned. 

Godâ??s judgment takes place in our lives each day, by the way in which we respond to Christâ??s teaching and imitate him in serving our brothers and sisters.  Let us prepare, then, to meet our judge with confidence and joyful trust in his promises.

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Speaker: I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims present at todayâ??s Audience.  Upon you and your families I invoke Godâ??s blessings of joy and peace!