Vatican City, Jun 23, 2014 / 09:12 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In his daily homily Pope Francis warned that those who judge others are far from God, stating that in order to be close we must defend others rather than hastily accuse them.

“If we want to follow the way of Jesus, more than accusers, we have to be defenders of others before the Father,” the Pope said in his June 23 daily Mass.

“I see a bad thing in someone – do I go defend him? No! But keep quiet! Go pray and defend him before the Father as Jesus does.”