Pope Francis: Don't dialogue with the Devil

During Mass at Casa Santa Marta on Tuesday morning, Pope Francis spoke about how to deal with the Devil. Commenting on the Gospel of John, where Jesus says: "the ruler of this world has been condemned," the Pope said, although he has been defeated, Satan has a great power and capacity to seduce. He promises many things, bringing us beautifully packed gifts, without revealing their contents.

The Pope compared the Devil to a dying crocodile, who hunters advise not to approach because it can still strike you dead with its tail. Hence the devil is very dangerous, his proposals are all lies and we foolishly believe him.

The Pope described the Devil as the "father of lies", saying he speaks well, he can sing in order to deceive and he is a loser who moves about like a winner. His light dazzles like the fireworks but does not last. Instead the light of the Lord is "gentle and permanent".

The Devil, the Pope said, knows how to seduce us in our vanity and curiosity and we buy everything, falling into temptation. Knowing that a thought, a desire or move is dangerous and we still go there, it is like approaching the Devil who is like a chained angry dog that can still bite.

Unlike Eve who thought herself a "great theologian" and fell, the Pope said we must never dialogue with the Devil because he wins, he is more intelligent than us. On the contrary, Jesus in the desert responds to the Devil with the Word of God, hunts down demons, sometimes asking his name but doesn't dialogue.

Recalling the advice of Jesus to watch, do penance and fast, Pope Francis said we too must do so but never enter into dialogue with the Devil. And in moments of temptation we must approach the mother, like frightened children do.

According to the Russian mystics, in times of spiritual upheavals, take refuge under the mantle of the great Mother of God, the Pope said.