How is purgatory related to the Roman Catholic belief in the resurrection of the body?
In Roman Catholic theology, the belief in purgatory is closely linked to the broader eschatological framework that includes the resurrection of the body.
Central to Catholic teaching is the conviction that the resurrection of the dead is confirmed by the bodily Resurrection of Jesus. Purgatory functions as an interim state for those who die in a state of grace but require purification before entering heaven. This doctrine presupposes an individual judgment immediately after death, which serves as a precursor to the general Last Judgment that occurs at the end of time, coinciding with the general resurrection of the dead.1234
Because purgatory is an interim period of correction and penance, it is logically understood to cease at the time of the Last Judgment. While the resurrection of the body remains the ultimate hope for the fulfillment of eternal life, purgatory provides the necessary opportunity for the soul to be made ready for that final state of union with God.421