Pope Francis speaks of the devil, a real figure

The devil is real and is so jealous of Jesus and the salvation that Jesus offers that he tries to do everything possible to divide people and make them attack each other, said Pope Francis.

Celebrating mass in the chapel of his residence on November 12, the pope preached on the first reading of the day from the Book of Wisdom, which says: “God trained us to be imperishable; the image of its very nature made us. But from the devil's envy, death has entered the world. "

"Some say:" But, father, the devil does not exist, "said the pope to the small congregation in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae. "But the word of God is clear."

The devil's envy, which mentions the Book of Wisdom, is the root of all his efforts to induce people to hate and kill each other. But his first steps, said the pope, are to sow "jealously, envy and competition" instead of allowing people to enjoy brotherhood and peace.

Some people will say, "But, father, I am not destroying anyone." No? What about your gossip? When do you speak ill of another? Destroy that person, ”said the pope.

Someone else might say, “But, father, I was baptized. I am a practicing Catholic, how is it possible that I can become a murderer? "

The answer is that "we have a war inside us," said the pope.

Pointing to the beginning of Genesis, he noted that "Cain and Abel were brothers, but out of jealousy, envy, one destroyed the other". And even today, he said, just turn on the TV news and see wars, destruction and people dying from hatred or because others are too selfish to help.

“Behind all this, there is someone who pushes us to do these things. It's what we call temptation, ”he said. "Someone is touching your heart to make you follow the wrong path, someone who sows destruction in our hearts, who sows hatred."

Francis said he could not help but wonder why countries spend so much money on weapons and war when that money can be used to feed children at risk of starvation or to bring clean water, education and health care to all.

What is happening in the world, he said, also happens "in my soul and yours" because of the "seeds of the devil's envy" sown in abundance.

Francis asked people at Mass with him to pray for greater faith in Jesus, who became human to fight and defeat the devil, and for the strength "not to join the game of this great envir, the great liar, the sower to hate . "