Pope: contempt for life is the origin of all the evil in the world

Speaking of the commandment "do not kill", Francis asked, "how can an act that does away with innocent and defenseless life in its origin be therapeutic, civil or simply human ".I ask you: is it right to “take out” a human life to resolve a problem? Is it right to hire an assassin to resolve a problem?"

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The origin of all the evil in the world is the contempt for life, whether it manifests itself in wars, in the exploitation of man, in the killing of a nascent life. And in the latter case, "how can an act that does away with innocent and defenseless life in its origin be therapeutic, civil or simply human ".I ask you: is it right to “take out” a human life to resolve a problem? Is it right to hire an assassin to resolve a problem?".

The Commandment "not to kill" in all its range was at the center of Pope Francis' catechesis for today's general audience, in which he particularly emphasized the no to abortion.

Speaking to the more than 30 thousand people present in St. Peter's Square, Francis has indeed highlighted how " with its concise and categorical formulation, stands as a wall of defense of the basic value in human relations”.

The Pope continued: “It could be said that all the evil done in the world is summarized in this: the contempt for life. Life is attacked by wars, by organizations that exploit man — we read in the newspapers or see in the television news so many things — by speculation on creation and the disposable culture, and by all systems that subject human existence to calculations of opportunity, while a scandalous number of people live in a state unworthy of man. This is to scorn life, namely, in some way to kill”.

“A contradictory approach also allows the suppression of human life in the maternal womb in the name of safeguarding other rights. But how can an act that does away with innocent and defenseless life in its origin be therapeutic, civil or simply human? I ask you: is it right to “take out” a human life to resolve a problem? Is it right to hire an assassin to resolve a problem? It can’t be done, it’s not right to “take out” a human being, although small, to resolve a problem. It’s like hiring an assassin to resolve a problem.From where does all this come? From where, deep down, are violence and the rejection of life born? From fear. Acceptance of the other, in fact, is a challenge to individualism. We think, for instance, when it is discovered that an unborn life is the bearer of disability, even grave. In these dramatic cases, the parents are in need of real closeness, of real solidarity to face the reality, overcoming the understandable fears. Instead, they often receive hasty advice to interrupt the pregnancy, that is, it’s a way of saying: “to interrupt a pregnancy” means to “take one out” directly..A sick baby is like any needy person on earth, as an elderly man who needs help, as so many poor that struggle to go on: he or she who appears as a problem is, in reality, a gift of God that can draw me out of egocentrism and make me grow in love. Vulnerable life points out to us the way out, the way to save us from an inward-looking existence and to discover the joy of love. And I would like to pause here to thank, to thank so many volunteers, to thank the strong Italian voluntary work, which is the strongest I’ve known. Thank you”.

“And what leads man to reject life? It’s the idols of this world: money — better to take this away from our midst, because it will cost –, power and success. These are erroneous parameters to value life. What is the only authentic measure of life? It is love, the love with which God loves it!  The love with which God loves life: this is the measure — the love with which God loves every human life. In fact, what is the positive meaning of the Word “Do not kill”? That God is “lover of life,” as we heard a short while ago in the biblical Reading. The secret of life was revealed by the way the Son of God treated it, who made Himself man to assuming, on the cross, rejection, weakness, poverty and pain (Cf. John 13:1). In every sick child, in every weak elderly man, in every desperate migrant, in every fragile and threatened life Christ is seeking us (Cf. Matthew 25:34-46), He is seeking our heart, to unlock for us the joy of love”.

“It’s worthwhile to receive every life because every man is worth the Blood of Christ Himself (Cf. 1 Peter 1:18-19). One can’t scorn what God has so loved!We must say to the men and women of the world: don’t scorn life! The life of others, but also one’s own, because for it also the Commandment “Do not kill” is true. So many young people are told: don’t scorn your existence! Stop rejecting God’s work! You are a work of God! Don’t underestimate yourself, don’t scorn yourself with addictions that will ruin you and lead you to death!”

“No one should measure life according to the deceits of this world, but each one should accept himself and others in the name of the Father who has created us. He is “lover of life”: this is beautiful. “God is lover of life.”  And we are all so dear to Him that He sent His Son for us. The Gospel says, in fact: “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16)".

"Do not kill - he reiterated in the greeting to the Arab faithful - is a divine commandment that confirms the sacredness of human life, as gift of God, that no one, under any circumstances, has the right to remove or manipulate or despise. Killing is a sin against God, who is the Lord of life, against ourselves and against our neighbor ".