Top Pope Francis’ Quotes On Death

1. The question of death is a question of life

“The question of death is the question of life, and keeping the question of death open, perhaps, is the greatest human responsibility so as to keep the question of life open…But the oblivion of death is also its beginning, and also, a culture that forgets death begins to die within. He who forgets death has already begun to die.”

Pope Francis, Video Message To Young People, Mexico 2019

2. Death affects us all

Death affects us all, and it questions us in a profound way, especially when it touches us closely, or when it takes the little ones, the defenseless in such a way that it seems “scandalous”. I have always been struck by the question: why do children suffer? why do children die? If it is understood as the end of everything, death frightens us, it terrifies us, it becomes a threat that shatters every dream, every promise, it severs every relationship and interrupts every journey.

Pope Francis, Audience, 27^th November 2013

3. Our lives do not end with death

“If we look at the most painful moments of our lives, when we have lost a loved one — our parents, a brother, a sister, a spouse, a child, a friend — we realize that even amid the tragedy of loss, even when torn by separation, the conviction arises in the heart that everything cannot be over, that the good given and received has not been pointless. There is a powerful instinct within us which tells us that our lives do not end with death. This thirst for life found its true and reliable answer in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ Resurrection does not only give us the certainty of life after death, it also illumines the very mystery of the death of each one of us.”

Pope Francis, Audience, 27^th November 2013

4. The one who practices mercy does not fear death

“The one who practices mercy does not fear death. And why does he not fear it? Because he looks death in the face in the wounds of his brothers and sisters, and he overcomes it with the love of Jesus Christ.”

Pope Francis, Audience, 27^th November 2013

5. God will keep us steadfast even in our final passage of death

“Even death is illumined and can be experienced as the ultimate call to faith, the ultimate “Go forth from your land” (Gen 12:1), the ultimate “Come!” spoken by the Father, to whom we abandon ourselves in the confidence that he will keep us steadfast even in our final passage.”

Pope Francis, The Light Of Faith, 56

6. Death is defeated, hope is restored

“Through the Cross of Christ the Evil One is overcome, death is defeated, life is given to us, hope is restored. This is important: through the Cross of Christ hope is restored to us.”

Pope Francis, Angelus, 14^th September 2014

Read more:
– “The More We Live Life, The Less We Fear Death” – Dealing With Death
– The Death Of My Younger Brother