While the light of Jesus is powerful enough to cast out demons, it is
a peaceful and humble light that helps us carry the cross in our lives,
said Pope Francis in a recent homily. “Jesus doesn’t need an army to cast out the demons, he has no need of
pride, no need of force, of arrogance,” the Pope said during daily Mass
at the chapel of the Saint Martha House. Around 50 people, usually employees from various Vatican departments, are invited to attend each day. Pope Francis took his homily from the Gospel of Luke, which narrates how Jesus cast out demons. The light of Jesus “saves us from darkness,” emphasized the Holy Father,
and Christianity is “an identity of light, not of darkness. This Light is not well-liked by the world,” he said. “Today one might
think that there is the possibility of having the light with so many
scientific things, and so many of the things of humanity. You can know everything, you can have knowledge of all things…but the light of Jesus is something else,” the Pope explained. He noted that “it is not a light of ignorance, it’s a light of wisdom
and sagacity, but it is something other than the light of the world. The light that the world offers us is an artificial light, strong, perhaps, but that of Jesus is stronger,” he remarked. Rather than a strong but brief flash, he said, the “light of Jesus is a
mild light, it is a quiet light, it is a light of peace, it’s like the
light on Christmas night, without pretense.” He added that “the light of Jesus does not put on a show, it is a light that comes into the heart” and “offers and gives peace. However, it’s true that many times the devil comes dressed as an angel of light,” the Pope warned. “He likes to imitate Jesus and do good, he speaks to us quietly, as he
spoke to Jesus after the fast in the desert,” he explained. The pontiff stressed that we should ask for the wisdom of discernment to
distinguish when it is Jesus who gives us true light, and when it is
the devil, disguised as an angel of light. “How many believe they are living in the light and they are in darkness, but they don’t realize it?” he asked. Pope Francis described the light of Jesus as “a humble light” and “not a light that imposes itself. It’s a meek light, with the strength of meekness, it’s a light that
speaks to the heart, and also a light that offers you the cross,” he
remarked. “If we, in our inner light are meek, if we hear the voice of Jesus in
the heart and look at the cross without fear, that is the light of
Jesus,” he said, contrasting this with the devil’s false light, which
“makes you arrogant” and prideful, leading you “to look on others from
on high, to despise others.” We can distinguish between these two lights, the Pope said, by
recognizing that “wherever Jesus is, there is always humility, meekness,
love and the cross.”
Pope Saint John Paul II , a towering figure of the 20th century, was a staunch critic of socialist ideologies. He recognized the inherent flaws in systems that sought to control economies and societies through centralized planning and state ownership. The pontiff's teachings offered a prophetic warning against the dangers of such regimes, which often led to oppression, poverty, and the erosion of individual freedoms. Recently, a conference organized by the Catholic Association of Propagandists in Spain brought together prominent figures who echoed the concerns raised by the late Pope. Bishop José Ignacio Munilla of Orihuela-Alicante boldly declared socialism an "enemy of the cross," highlighting its incompatibility with Christian values. He emphasized the need for a spiritual renewal, urging individuals to embrace the cross as a path to true happiness and fulfillment. French philosopher Fabrice Hadjadj also addressed the challenges posed by modern society, warning ag...