Pope Francis: ‘Never dialogue with the devil’

Pope Francis has told the faithful that when tempted to sin, one should send the devil away and never dialogue with him just like what Jesus did.

The pope said Sunday, March 1 that one should follow the example of Christ by sending the devil away or answer him with the Word of God.

“Jesus does two things with the devil: he chases him away or, as in this case [in the desert], he answers with the Word of God. Be careful: never dialogue with temptation, never dialogue with the devil,” Pope Francis said adding:

“Never talk to the devil.”

The Pope addressed the faithful regarding Jesus’ 40 days in the desert where the Devil tempted the Lord three times.

“Even today Satan bursts into people’s lives to tempt them with his enticing proposals,” the pope said, adding “Messages come from many directions inviting [us] ‘to be tempted’ to experience the thrill of transgression.”

He said temptation tries to propose alternatives to God’s way, suggesting there is no problem, that God will forgive us, or that something is not a sin.

He added that these give the feeling of self-sufficiency, that the purpose of life is its enjoyment.

“But all this is illusory: soon we realize that the more we distance ourselves from God, the more we feel defenseless and helpless in the face of the great problems of existence,” Pope Francis said.

The pope has also prayed that the Virgin Mother will help all during Lent to be vigilant in the face of temptations and not to submit to any idol of this world, to follow Jesus in the fight against evil.