“There Is An Elegant Demon Amongst You”, Pope Francis Warns Vatican Authorities

Pope Francis has warned Vatican employees to watch out for the “elegant demon” that lurks in self-righteous Catholics during his customary Christmas address.

While delivering his annual Christmas message to the Roman Curia, Francis used his speech to remind the cardinals, bishops, and priests who serve in the Holy See that they are especially susceptible to evil.

Francis warned those in attendance that even if they were surrounded by Catholics, they could easily succumb to the idea that they were safe, better than others, and no longer in need of conversion.

“Yet we are in greater danger than all others, because we are beset by the elegant demon, who does not make a loud entrance, but comes with flowers in his hand,” Francis warned the churchmen in the Apostolic Palace’s Hall of Blessings.

Francis seemed to want to address more than just the arch-conservatives and traditionalists who have grown to be his most vocal detractors in his speech this year.

Francis criticised their manner of practising the religion, stating that being Catholic is instead a “process of understanding Christ’s message that never ends, but constantly challenges us,” rather than adhering to an unchanging set of strict rules.

He said, “True heresy consists not only in preaching another gospel, as Saint Paul told us but also in ceasing to translate its message into today’s languages and ways of thinking.”

Traditionalist Catholics have criticized Francis’ focus on mercy and willingness to err on the side of theological ambiguity on matters like sacraments for Catholics who have been divorced and civilly remarried.

For some of his actions and teachings, such as letting “pagan” statues in the Vatican, some have even gone so far as to accuse him of heresy.

Francis also addressed the need to be watchful of the devil’s activities, bringing up a subject he recently covered during his weekly catechism teachings with the general people.

He explained to the Vatican authorities that simply denouncing or eradicating evil is insufficient because it frequently reemerges stronger than before.

Francis frequently used the word “we,” implying that he includes himself among those in the Vatican who must be aware of the presence of the devil.

He said, “Before it appeared rough and violent, now it shows up as elegant and refined.

“We need to realize that and once again to unmask it. That is how these elegant demons are: they enter smoothly, without our even being conscious of them.”