Pope Francis: “Divisions and Attacks are Always the Work of the Devil”

On April 11, 2023, the Vatican released part of an interview that Pope Francis had with Italian journalist Fabio Marchese Ragona. During the interview, Pope Francis expressed “that the Devil always tries to attack everyone and sow discord, even in the Church, trying to set up one against the other.” [1] It is a fact that Pope Francis has been working to bring all the various churches together and create a global fraternity among the nations. On this occasion, Pope Francis claimed that all divisions are the doings of the devil during a discussion on demon possession and exorcism.

The Pope said:

“Yes, it is true, as Saint Paul VI said, that the Devil can also enter the Temple of God, to sow discord and turn one against the other: divisions and attacks are always the work of the Devil. He always tries to insinuate himself to corrupt the heart and mind of man.” [1]

Pope Francis blames divisions on the Devil because it provides a convenient explanation for things that may be difficult to accept. By attributing divisions to Satan, people may feel like they are absolving themselves of personal responsibility and avoiding the uncomfortable reality that sometimes division is a good thing and sometimes our bad behavior is the cause. Separation is not always the work of the enemy. In fact, the Greek word for the church is “ekklesia,” which means “called out.” The church is made up of those who have been “called out of darkness” (1 Peter 2:9). God’s people have also been called to “come out” of Babylon (Revelation 18:4).

This is the biblical and godly response to the beast power of Revelation 13 that claims to have changed the law of God. We cannot become enamored with all the false religions, as many church leaders are doing today. We cannot be duped by an ecumenical agenda, as so many have been. And, as Pope Francis is attempting, we should not try to unite all of the world’s religions into one universal family.

At the very time that Pope Francis is calling the world to unite, and as the Vatican rejoices that the world is following her lead and restoring her temporal power, there is a voice from heaven that is calling for division rather than unity with Babylon. The call of God is, “Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4).

This is the message for this hour. It is a message to bring deliverance to those who have been captivated by heresy, falsehoods, and idolatry. The call is to come out so that we can keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12). God’s Spirit is working on making His army of faithful servants a light in the dark places of the earth: the prisons, our inner cities, the sin-ravaged communities, the heathen lands, and every nation. Soon, all the ends of the earth will have the opportunity to see the salvation of our God through the final invitation of mercy. May the Lord keep us faithful in His service so that He can use us to the very end, and then may we be found waiting and ready.

“But there is no union between the Prince of light and the prince of darkness, and there can be no union between their followers. When Christians consented to unite with those who were but half converted from paganism, they entered upon a path which led farther and farther from the truth. Satan exulted that he had succeeded in deceiving so large a number of the followers of Christ. He then brought his power to bear more fully upon these, and inspired them to persecute those who remained true to God … After a long and severe conflict, the faithful few decided to dissolve all union with the apostate church if she still refused to free herself from falsehood and idolatry. They saw that separation was an absolute necessity if they would obey the Word of God. They dared not tolerate errors fatal to their own souls, and set an example which would imperil the faith of their children and children’s children. To secure peace and unity they were ready to make any concession consistent with fidelity to God; but they felt that even peace would be too dearly purchased at the sacrifice of principle. If unity could be secured only by the compromise of truth and righteousness, then let there be difference, and even war” (Great Controversy, pp. 44, 45).

Sources

[1] https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-04/pope-devil-seeks-man-s-failure-but-can-do-nothing-with-prayer.html