People who follow Christ do not listen to "prophets of doom," silly horoscopes or sermons that frighten and divide people, Pope Francis said.
Christians persevere in hope and love — no matter what upheavals and difficulties arise, he said in a homily Nov. 13 in St. Peter's Basilica, reported CNS.
Jesus warned his disciples about it in the day's Gospel reading (Lk 21:5-19) when they begged him to reveal when and by what signs the end times would come, the pope said.
"We are constantly driven by curiosity. We want to know when and we want to see signs," he said. "Yet Jesus does not care for such curiosity."
"On the contrary, he exhorts us not to be taken in by apocalyptic preachers," the pope said. "Those who follow Jesus pay no heed to prophets of doom, the nonsense of horoscopes, or terrifying sermons and predictions that distract from the truly important things."
Jesus asks that people "persevere in the good" and place all their trust in God, who does not disappoint, forget or abandon his people, he said.
Even though Holy Doors would be closing with the end of the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis asked people to make sure they do not close their hearts to those in need.
The pope's remarks came during a Mass for the poor and socially excluded — "the Lazaruses of today" — as part of the Year of Mercy celebrations at the Vatican.