Vatican City, 01 March, 2020 / 2:08 pm (ACI Africa).
Pope Francis said Sunday to follow Christ’s example when dealing with the temptation to sin: send the devil away or answer with the Word of God, but never engage in debate.
When being tempted by the devil in the desert, “Jesus does not talk with the devil. Jesus responds to the devil with the Word of God, not with his word,” the pope said March 1.
Francis noted that in times of temptation one may start to debate with the devil about sin.
“Never talk to the devil,” he advised. “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’ address before the Angelus Sunday was on Jesus’ 40 days in the desert, where he goes to fast after being baptized in the Jordan River. There Jesus “prepares to begin his mission,” Francis said.