Pope Francis preaches on End Times and 'blasphemy' of Paris attacks

Pope Francis used his Angelus message on Sunday to preach about the end times, encouraging a focus on living in the present and Jesus' victory.

The Pope also explicitly addressed the Paris attack, expressing his "deep sorrow for the terrorist attacks that bloodied France late on Friday, causing many casualties."

"We wonder how can it come to the heart of man to conceive and carry out of such horrible events", he said.

"The road of violence and hatred does not resolve humanity's problems. And using the name of God to justify this road is blasphemy."

Reading from Sunday's scripture, the Pope spoke of Jesus' preaching on the end of the world containing "apocalyptic elements, like war, famine, and cosmic catastrophes."

Although he acknowledged these signs, he highlighted that they are not the most important things. Rather, "our final goal is the meeting with the resurrected Lord."

Rather than focusing on when or how the end will come, Francis compelled his audience to "live in the present."

"This is our goal: this meeting. We do not expect a time or a place, but we encounter a person: Jesus."

At the end of the world, Francis said, "Jesus' triumph will be the triumph of the cross, the demonstration that the sacrifice of oneself out of love for one's neighbour, in imitation of Christ, is the only victorious power and the only stable point in the midst of the upheavals and tragedies of the world."

related articles
Apocalypse Right Now: Why the end-timers keep getting it wrong
Apocalypse Right Now: Why the end-timers keep getting it wrong

Apocalypse Right Now: Why the end-timers keep getting it wrong

How to read the Book of Revelation

How to read the Book of Revelation

Three immediate responses to the Paris attacks
Three immediate responses to the Paris attacks

Three immediate responses to the Paris attacks

Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby respond in prayer to Paris attacks
Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby respond in prayer to Paris attacks

Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby respond in prayer to Paris attacks

Dawkins, Paris and Digital Luminaries: How Paris calls us to a different way of being on social media
Dawkins, Paris and Digital Luminaries: How Paris calls us to a different way of being on social media

Dawkins, Paris and Digital Luminaries: How Paris calls us to a different way of being on social media

News
Active faith linked to happier marriages and lower divorce rates, study finds
Active faith linked to happier marriages and lower divorce rates, study finds

People who regularly attend church are more likely to report happy marriages, according to a new report examining the relationship between faith and family life.

Indian churches fearing anti-conversion laws tell non-Christians: enter at your own risk
Indian churches fearing anti-conversion laws tell non-Christians: enter at your own risk

Churches in Dhamtari, a town in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, have put up notices warning non-Christians that they enter at their own risk, weeks after a law against religious conversion came into force in the state.

£1k bursaries to help churches develop youth and community mentoring programmes
£1k bursaries to help churches develop youth and community mentoring programmes

Churches across the UK are being offered bursaries to help them establish mentoring programmes aimed at supporting young people and others in their communities.

World Evangelical Alliance celebrates 180th anniversary
World Evangelical Alliance celebrates 180th anniversary

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) has held an online celebration to mark its 180th anniversary. Hundreds of people from more than 22 countries attended, and the event was rebroadcast to accommodate different time zones.