The talk addresses a theological and practical question: did Christ fear death? It proceeds from a Hebrews text and Gospel phrases such as “If you will, take this cup from me” and “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me” to explain the reality of Christ’s struggle in suffering.

Short answer:
The Pope affirms that the Incarnate Word was not afraid of death in the human sense of cowardice or panic, but surrendered himself willingly to death because he has authority to lay down his life and to take it up. Christ knew that he would rise on the third day, and he came to conquer death not to flee it.

The nature of Christ’s struggle:
The anxiety, weeping, and supplication in Gethsemane were from his heart for humanity; they were not a desire to escape bodily death but pain over sin and its consequences for people. “My soul is sorrowful unto death” was sorrow for the sin that led humanity to death and for the scattering of the flock if the shepherd were removed.

Meaning of “the cup”:
The cup before which Christ stood represents bearing all the sins of the world, and the curse of the law that brings decisive punishment. Christ drank this cup on our behalf to remove the law’s curse and atone for sins; therefore the cup was very bitter.

Meaning of “he was heard for his godliness”:
The mentioned response does not mean his deliverance from death on the cross, but the acceptance of his sacrifice before the Father; that is, his prayer was heard so that the value of his atonement was acknowledged by God and his mission was not nullified.

Implication of “he did not use his divinity to prevent the pain”:
The divinity did not prevent the humanity from experiencing psychological and bodily pain and the divine wrath; the Son of God allowed the humanity to undergo suffering so that he might endure the Father’s anger for us and eliminate the effects of sin.

Practical conclusion:
Christ did not exhibit a selfish fear of death but offered himself out of love for the Father and for people; this reality calls us to perseverance and trust in Christ’s resurrection, and to understand that suffering and sacrifice have salvific meaning, and that our fear of death is overcome by Christ’s redemptive work.

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