Paul VI – Credo of the People of God (June 30, 1968): Angels, as pure spirits, and the realm of the demon

## The *Credo of the People of God* (Solemnis Professio Fidei) by Paul VIThe *Credo of the People of God*, proclaimed on June 30, 1968, at the conclusion of the Year of Faith, is the most solemn personal profession of faith by a modern Pope. It includes clear statements on angelology and demonology during a period of significant theological crisis following the Second Vatican Council.**Pope:** Blessed Paul VI**Document:** *Solemnis Professio Fidei* (Credo of the People of God)**Date:** June 30, 1968 (Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, conclusion of the Year of Faith)**Location:** St. Peter’s Square, Rome**Source:** AAS 60 (1968) 433-445## Historical ContextThe Year of Faith (June 29, 1967 – June 30, 1968) was proclaimed by Paul VI to mark the 1900th anniversary of the martyrdom of Apostles Peter and Paul. At its close, amidst a phase of profound theological crisis post-Vatican II (doubting of dogmas, neo-theological modernism, dissent from *Humanae Vitae*), the Pope wished to make a personal and public profession of faith that reaffirmed the essential pillars of Catholicism.## Latin Text on Angels> **Credimus unum Deum, Patrem et Filium et Spiritum Sanctum, Creatorem rerum visibilium, ut huius mundi, in quo transitoriam degimus vitam, invisibilium quoque, ut sunt puri Spiritus, quos etiam Angelos vocamus, atque etiam Creatorem in unaquaque homine animi spiritualis ac immortalis.**## Portuguese Translation on Angels> **Cremos num só Deus, Pai e Filho e Espírito Santo, Criador das coisas visíveis, como é este mundo, no qual passamos a vida transitória, e também das invisíveis, como são os puros espíritos, que também chamamos Anjos, e Criador igualmente em cada homem da alma espiritual e imortal.**## Latin Text on the Devil and Original Sin> **Credemos quos nostri primi patres Adam et Eva constituti fuerunt in originali sanctitate et justitia… His tamen, quibus pater Adam per peccatum obdiciens, ex se ipso ad generem suum transmitten peccam, ut natura humana ad genus humanum privata eius sanitatis et justitiae, cum quas Deus creaverat, transmittatur, per illam originalem culpam captivi tenentur tenebris, quae nunc per demonium (qui a Deo se separavit per suum peccatum) dominant voluntatem eorum. Itaque animas humanas, natas in originali culpa, in statu spiritualis mortis versae sunt…**## Portuguese Translation> **Cremos que os nossos primeiros pais Adão e Eva foram constituídos no estado de santidade e justiça originais… Estes, porém, aos quais o pai Adão desobedeceu pelo pecado, que de si mesmo transmitiu à sua progénie, como devia transmitir a natureza humana ao género humano, privada daquela santidade e justiça com a qual Deus a tinha criado, por aquela culpa originária foram feitos cativos das trevas, que agora reinam tanto pelo demónio (que pelo seu pecado se afastou de Deus) sobre a sua vontade. Assim, as almas humanas, concebidas na culpa original, estão em estado de morte espiritual…**## The Three Great Affirmations* **The unity of God:** Belief in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. * **Creation:** Belief in God as Creator of all things visible and invisible, including angels. * **Original Sin:** Belief that Adam and Eve’s disobedience introduced original sin into humanity, resulting in spiritual death.

1. Angels exist as pure spirits: «Invisibilium quoque, ut sunt puri Spiritus, quos etiam Angelos vocamus»
2. Angels are creatures: God is the «Creatore rerum visibilium et invisibilium»
3. The Devil is a real personal being: «Captivos esse factos a tenebris, quae nunc et a daemone… regnant»

The ‘Credo’ as magisterial response

Paul VI was aware that many contemporary theologians were:

• Reducing angels to «symbols» or «metaphors»
• Denying the personal existence of the Devil
• Reinterpreting original sin as «social sin»
• Eliminating «supernatural» elements from faith

The Credo of the People of God is his clear response: each of these points, far from being «mythology», belongs to the deposit of faith revealed and defined by the Magisterium.

The Devil and Original Sin

Particularly important is the articulation between the Devil and original sin. Paul VI affirms:

1. Original sin was the cause of «captivity in darkness»
2. This captivity is acted upon by «the demon», who «by his sin fell away from God»
3. The demon reigns over fallen human will
4. Only baptism liberates from this captivity

This articulation returns to patristic soteriology (St. Athanasius, St. John Chrysostom), which sees the Cross as Christ’s victory over evil (Christus Victor).

General Structure of the Credo

The Credo of the People of God has 30 paragraphs covering:

• Trinity (paragraphs 1-9)
• Incarnation and Redemption (paragraphs 10-13)
• Church (paragraphs 14-22)
• Eucharist (paragraphs 23-26)
• Sacraments and Eternal Life (paragraphs 27-30)

The statements about angels are at the beginning (paragraph 8 on creation); those about the Devil come in the context of original sin (paragraphs 11-12).

Doctrinal Legacy

The Credo of the People of God was the direct basis for:

• CDF Document on Faith and Demonology (1975)
• Paul VI’s Speech on the Devil (November 15, 1972)
• John Paul II’s Catecheses (1986)
• Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992)

Further Reading

IV Lateran Council 1215 | Florence, Cantate Domino 1442 | Paul VI Confronts the Devil 1972 | CCC on Angels and Demons

Check out our complete guide to Catholic Angelology.