"The world believes those who live long are lucky, but God looks at one’s heart righteousness rather than at one’s age. The world gives praise to people who are ‘wise’ and ‘learned’, but God likes ‘the children’ best." This is what Pope Benedict XVI said in today’s homily at the Vatican during the Mass for the soul of Bishops and Cardinals departed last year. Saying that it is "a good tradition" and that "our prayer is moved and supported by the mystery of the communion of the saints," the Pope added that by remembering the dead "we come to learn (…)the reality has two dimensions. One is more deep, truth and eternal. The other is marked by finitude, caducity and appearance". For the Pontiff, "it is important to note that these two dimensions are not placed in a temporal succession as true life does not begin after death. In reality, true life begins already in this world, even in the precariousness of history events," he said. "Eternal life begins when we open ourselves to the mystery of God and welcome Him among us. He is God, the Lord of life, and in Him ‘we live and move and have our being’ (Acts 17,28), as St. Paul said in the Athens’ Areopagus." ” ” ” “
