Pope Francis reflects on heaven
November 26, 2014
Pope Francis devoted his November 26 general audience to the Church’s pilgrimage to heaven.
“This is the goal toward which the Church projects itself: it is the ‘new Jerusalem,’ ‘Paradise,’” he said. “More than a place, it is a ‘state of being’ in which our deepest expectations will be fulfilled in abundance and our being as creatures and as children of God, will reach full maturity. We will finally be covered with the joy, peace, and love of God in a complete way, without any limitations, and we will be face to face with Him!”
He continued:
Those who already live in the sight of God can indeed support us and intercede for us, pray for us from heaven. On the other hand, we are always invited to offer good deeds, prayer and the Eucharist itself to alleviate the suffering of souls who are still waiting for the bliss without end. Yes, because in the Christian perspective, the distinction is not between those who are already dead and those who are not, but between those who are in Christ and those who are not! This is the determining factor, really decisive for our salvation and for our happiness.
Referring to three New Testament texts (Romans 8, 2 Peter 3, and Revelation 21), Pope Francis added that “what lies ahead, as the fulfillment of a transformation that is actually already in place since the death and resurrection of Christ, is therefore a new creation. It is not an annihilation of the universe and all that surrounds us, rather it brings everything to its fullness of being, truth and beauty. This is the plan that God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, always wants to accomplish and is realizing.”
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