Pope Francis: Gossip kills, God is truth

Source: Vatican Media

During his weekly General Audience with pilgrims in St Peter's Square on Wednesday, Pope Francis reflected on the eighth commandment: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour."

Christians are called to be "truthful not only in our words, but in our entire way of acting towards others," he said. "Our ultimate model in this regard is Jesus himself. He is the truth in person who, at his trial before Pilate, revealed that he came into this world to testify to the truth."

When a person is not communicating authentically, it is a serious matter, because it inhibits relationships and therefore inhibits love. "Where there is a lie, there is no love," the Pope said.

Gossiping kills, he said.... the tongue kills like a knife." Be careful, the Pope added, the gossip "is a terrorist because he or she throws a bomb and leaves."

"Christians are not exceptional men and women, said the Pope, "we are, however, children of our heavenly Father, who is good and does not disappoint us, and places in our hearts the love for our brothers and sisters."

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour" he stressed, means living as children of God, acting in accordance with his will and trusting in him. "It bids us live this new life to the full, and thus to bear true witness to God's saving love, made incarnate in the humanity of Christ our Lord. "I trust God", concluded Pope Francis, " this is the great truth."