CNS STORY: Pope says hope of eternal life helps people face life, death

POPE-MEMORIAL Nov-5-2009 (300 words) xxxi

Pope says hope of eternal life helps people face life, death

By Sarah Delaney
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Hope and faith in eternal life give Christians strength to overcome the difficulties of daily life and the pain of death, Pope Benedict XVI said during a Mass honoring cardinals and bishops who died during the past year.

In the face of death, believers possess "the hope of immortality," the pope said during the memorial Mass Nov. 5 in St. Peter's Basilica.

Pope Benedict told the cardinals, bishops, ambassadors and faithful gathered at the basilica's Altar of the Chair that death is "a disturbing enigma" that brings with it the "painful separation from loved ones."

But faith "sustains us in these moments that are full of sorrow and dismay," he said.

Faith also helps people get through all obstacles that are part of life, he said. "There is no lack of difficulties and problems on our paths, with situations of suffering and pain, moments that are difficult to understand and accept," he said.

However, "all of this grows in value and meaning if it is considered in the perspective of eternity," he said. Trials borne with patience "are all to our spiritual advantage here on earth but above all in our future life in heaven," he said.

If believers persevere in doing good works, the pope said, "our faith, purified by many trials, will one day shine in all of its glory" when it is demonstrated before Jesus.

The pope mentioned by name only the seven cardinals who had died in the past year: Cardinals Avery Dulles, a U.S. Jesuit theologian; Pio Laghi, a Vatican official and former nuncio to the United States; Stephanos II Ghattas, patriarch of the Coptic Catholic Church; Stephen Kim Sou-hwan of Seoul, South Korea; Paul Pham Dinh Tung of Hanoi, Vietnam; Umberto Betti, an Italian Franciscan theologian; and Jean Margeot of Port Louis, Mauritius.

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