General Audience - Copyright Vatican Media

General Audience: Pope: 'Every Evil Is Caused by a Disregard for Life'

‘Assaults upon life occur in many situations, from war and exploitation to the suppression of the
vulnerable, elderly and unborn’

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Here is the Vatican-provided English-language summary of the Pope’s address at the General Audience this morning:
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Speaker:
Dear brothers and sisters: In our continuing catechesis on the Ten Commandments, we now
consider the injunction against killing. We could say that every evil is caused by a disregard for life.
Assaults upon life occur in many situations, from war and exploitation to the suppression of the
vulnerable, elderly and unborn. Ultimately it is fear that gives rise to the rejection of life. To
welcome the other, however, challenges such fear. We see the attitude that welcomes rather than
rejects life in the heart-rending concern of parents for a sick child. Their desire to protect and save
is a sign of life’s precious value, seen above all in those who suffer, who are in fact God’s gift, and
who help us to grow in his love. God’s love is the only authentic measure of life, whose secret is
revealed by Jesus, who embraced the rejected, weak, poor and sick throughout his life and upon the
cross. In the midst of our weaknesses, Christ seeks our hearts in order to reveal to us the joy of love.
As the Gospel reminds us, “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that
whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16).
Speaker:
I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims taking part in today’s Audience, particularly the
groups from England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka,
Canada, Curaçao and the United States of America. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke the
joy and peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you all!
© Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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