Pope Francis warned Vatican staff during a Christmas speech that an “elegant demon” was among them. Giving his annual address to the Roman Curia, he told the cardinals present that none are impervious to evil and their holy lives make them more vulnerable, in many ways. What a way to spread festive cheer!
- Pope Francis’ speech was issued on December 22. Speaking at the Hall of Blessings of the Apostolic Palace, he told cardinals that they must be hyper-vigilant against Satan, saying that evil is an “elegant demon” that knows how to manipulate people and bend them to his will.
- Holy people are no safer than everyone else when it comes to falling prey to the devil. The Pope admitted that those high up in the Catholic Church could “easily fall into the temptation of thinking we are safe, better than others, no longer in need of conversion,” per the Associated Press. “Yet we are in greater danger than all others, because we are beset by the ‘elegant demon’, who does not make a loud entrance, but comes with flowers in his hand.”
- It’s not enough to just say you’re going to be good. According to Pope Francis in his speech, choosing to be good isn’t enough. The best way to resist evil is “by choosing to be converted.” As he explained: “Mere condemnation can give the illusion that we have solved the problem, whereas what really counts is making the changes that will ensure that we no longer allow ourselves to be imprisoned by evil ways of thinking, which are often those of this world.”
- Given the evil that happens within the Catholic Church, the Pope‘s speech has resonance. Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, the crimes of the Catholic Church have been well-documented. In particular, the sexual abuse within the Church is heinous and has gone largely unchecked. No wonder he’s warning about demons among them!
Featured image credit: Presidency of the Italian Republic
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