"If we put love for our neighbour into practice, according to the Gospel message, then we pave the way for the lordship of God, and his kingdom is realised among us. If instead each one of us thinks only of their own interests, the world cannot but fall into ruins." This is the warning Pope Benedict XVI launched today at the Angelus for the solemnity of Christ the King which insisted on the "universal kingship of Christ the judge, with the impressive parable of the final judgement" presented by St Mattew. "The images are simple, the language is popular, but the message is extremely important," said the Pope. "It is the truth about our ultimate destiny and lays down the criteria by which we will be judged." "Who does not know this passage?", asked the Pontiff according to whom this Gospel extract "is part of our civilisation, has marked the history of peoples of Christian culture, their hierarchy of values, their institutions, and their many beneficial and social works." "The kingdom of God is not of this world, but brings to fulfilment all the good that, thanks to God, exists in men and history." In other words, "the kingdom of God is not a question of honours and appearances but, like St Paul writes, it is ‘justice, peace and joy in the Holy spirit’," concluded the Pope. ” “
