Mexican cardinal says existence of devil must be taken seriously

Cardinal Rivera said that many people embrace esoteric and occult practices because of their estrangement from God.

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (CNA) - Archbishop of Mexico City, Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, said yesterday that the existence of the devil must be taken as fact, without exaggerating or minimizing his actions out of skepticism or credulity taken to the extreme.

During a conference for exorcists in Mexico, the cardinal said skepticism leads many to deny the existence of the devil and dismiss his actions as psychological, socio-cultural or paranormal phenomena. Others, out of extreme gullibility, see the devil everywhere and grant him supernatural powers as if he were God, the cardinal stated.

According to the Archdiocese of Mexico City's news service, Cardinal Rivera said that many people embrace esoteric and occult practices because of their estrangement from God.

He encouraged exorcists to appeal to the Virgin Mary for help, as she plays a special role in the fight against the demonic. "She brings us to Jesus, she protects us and cares for us in this difficult ministry ... Mary also participates in exorcisms. She herself is an exorcist and expels the devil through her sanctity," the cardinal stressed.

"The Lord Jesus, together with the Virgin Mary, helps us to lend a hand to those who are weakest and most in need, especially in sensitive and prudent cases of liberation or exorcism," Cardinal Rivera stated.

Throughout human history, he recalled, "there has been a hard battle against the powers of darkness, which began at the origins of the world and will endure until the last day, according to what the Lord has said."

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