Paul VI – Confronting Hell (November 15, 1972): The magistral discourse on the devil

## The Address of Pope Paul VI at the General Audience on November 15, 1972

What are the Church’s greatest needs today? Let me not surprise you with a simplistic, even superstitious and unreal answer: one of the most pressing needs is defense against that evil we call the Devil.

Let us open our eyes to the reality of the world, illuminated by Sacred Scripture, the Church, and our human experience. Sacred Scripture warns us: “Your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion is on the prowl, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Above all, the prologue of the Gospel of John… contains this mysterious formula: “The world did not know him,” which resonates with Jesus’ words at the Last Supper: “world” means “those who oppose Christ, his faith, and his redemption.”

## Translation:

**Il Male as a Living Being**

The evil is not merely a deficiency but an efficiency, a living spiritual being perverted and pervading. A terrible reality. Mysterious and terrifying. Those who reject its existence step outside the boundaries of biblical and ecclesiastical teaching; they either make it an independent principle, devoid of origin like every creature, or explain it as a pseudo-reality, a conceptual and fantastical personification of unknown causes behind our ills.

**The Church’s Greatest Needs**

What are the Church’s greatest needs today? It would be simplistic, even superstitious and unreal to say that one of them is not the defense against that evil we call the Devil.

Let us open our eyes to the reality of the world, illuminated by Sacred Scripture, the Church, and human experience. Sacred Scripture warns us: “Your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Similarly, the entire prologue of the Gospel of John… contains this mysterious formula: “The world did not know him,” echoing Jesus’ words during the Last Supper: “World” means “those who oppose Christ, His faith, and His redemption.”

**Defending Against Evil**

Therefore, what is our defense? The Lord prays for us to be freed from evil. Our greatest defense is grace, innocence, and the unexpected victory of Good over Evil, made accessible through prayer, sacraments, and personal testimony of life.

**Four Magnae Affirmations**

1. **The Devil exists as a personal being**. He is not a symbol, myth, or personification.
2. **The Devil acts in the world**. He troubles the Church, attacks the faithful, and perverts structures.
3. **The Devil has already been defeated by Christ**, but continues to act until the end of time.
4. **Christians have weapons to resist**: grace, innocence, prayer, sacraments, testimony.

**Reception of the Speech**

Paul VI’s speech on November 15, 1972 was one of the most commented upon during his pontificate. Most “demythologizing” Catholic theologians (Herbert Haag among them) found themselves publicly contradicted by the Pope. Traditionalists saw it as a welcome reaffirmation of ancient doctrine. Secular media ridiculed it. But with this speech, the Vatican established the Church’s official position on demonology for the post-conciliar era.

**Legacy**

## Paul VI’s Address: The Foundation for Subsequent Teachings and Practices

The discourse of Paul VI served as the basis for:

– **CDF, Faith Christian and Demonology 1975**
– **John Paul II’s Catecheses on the Devil (1986)**
– **New Ritual of Exorcism (1999)**
– **CCC (1992) section on Demons**
– **Episcopal Conferences that renewed diocesan exorcists in the 1980s-2000s**

## Additional Reading

– **CDF, Faith and Demonology 1975** | **Fourth Lateran Council 1215**