VATICAN CITY (CNS) The world is finite and will someday end, but the Word of God is eternal and will never die, Pope Benedict XVI said. Everything created is "destined to pass away," but the words of Jesus "come from God and, therefore, are eternal," the pope said during his Sunday Angelus address Nov. 15.
Jesus’ word is like a "seed of eternity" and those who accept his word will bear fruit and become part of the kingdom of God — being in the world, but no longer of the world, he said.
The transforming power of Christ’s word "already now is manifested in a good life, animated by charity that in the end will produce the resurrection of the flesh," said the pope.
After praying the Angelus, the pope recalled that Italians celebrated Thanksgiving Nov. 15. He expressed his spiritual closeness to all those who take time to recognize that the fruits of the earth and human labor are gifts from God.
He also reminded everyone that it was necessary to respect the environment, which is "a precious resource" entrusted to humanity to safeguard.
Nov. 15 also marked the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, the pope said.
"We pray for all who have been killed or injured in road accidents," he said, asking God to comfort the victim’s families and loved ones.
