Pope says to look to death with ‘hope’ and ‘joy’
(ANSA) – Rome, November 1 – Pope Francis on Friday told Catholics to look to death with “hope” and “joy” during an All Saints Day Mass at Rome’s Verano cemetery.
It is traditional for Catholics to visit the graves of deceased loved-ones on November 2, All Souls Day, and in Italy many also go to cemeteries on All Saints Day, a national holiday.
“In this pre-sunset of today, each one of us can think of the sunset of his life,” Francis told thousands of faithful.
“We will all have a sunset. Do you look to it with hope, with the joy of being received by the Lord? This is the Christian sunset. “Today is a day of hope. Our brothers and sisters are in the presence of God. “We will be there too, by the pure grace of God, if we walk on the path of Jesus”.