The devil loves Christians — especially priests and nuns — who are resigned to the violence and corruption around them, Pope Francis said.
Celebrating Mass Feb. 16 at a stadium in Morelia, Pope Francis repeated his frequent call to priests, religious and seminarians to get out of their churches and convents and take God's mercy and offer of salvation to the world.
But in Morelia, the geographic center of Mexico and capital of Michoacan state — a stronghold of the Knights Templar drug cartel — the pope was not talking just about traditional evangelization.
The pope's message was an encouragement to those priests and religious who literally risk their lives standing up to drug lords and urging their faithful to do the same.
In the face of overwhelming violence and death, the pope said, "the devil can overcome us with one of his favorite weapons: resignation. A resignation that paralyzes us and prevents us not only from walking, but also from making the journey."
