Does the Devil Exist? The Vatican newspaper unnecessarily suggests that he does not. A controversy in the middle of summer
Issue No. 157 of Donne Chiesa Mondo, the L’Osservatore Romano supplement, released July 1 with the theme “The Devil Within Us”, sparked debate over its portrayal of Satan. Contributors, including New Testament scholar Marinella Perroni, explored evil from biblical, psychological, cultural, and social perspectives, suggesting a nuanced view that critics say downplays Satan’s personal existence. Critics argue the issue blurs the Church’s teaching on the personal reality of Satan, raising concerns about doctrinal fidelity. The controversy reflects ongoing Vatican theological discussions on addressing contemporary understandings of evil while upholding traditional doctrine.
3 months ago
A theological controversy has arisen after the July 1 issue of Donne Chiesa Mondo, the monthly supplement of L’Osservatore Romano, presented the theme “The Devil Within Us.” Critics argue that the publication’s emphasis on symbolic, psychological, and cultural analyses of evil downplays the Catholic Church’s longstanding teaching that Satan is a real, personal being 1.
Italian New Testament scholar Marinella Perroni authored an essay titled “The Serpent, the Woman and the Fruit. And Satan?” She notes that Genesis does not explicitly identify the serpent with the devil and that the link emerged gradually in later Jewish tradition before being fully articulated in Christian interpretation, especially in Revelation 1. Perroni also traces how these exegetical developments contributed to patriarchal associations among women, sin, and the devil.
The issue also includes reflections by Italian author Dacia Maraini, who describes evil as rooted in the human heart, and several pieces that examine experiences labeled “the devil” through lenses of guilt, trauma, and social pressure. These contributions largely treat evil as a human‑centered phenomenon rather than as the work of a personal demonic entity 1.
Church doctrine affirms the personal existence of Satan. The Fourth Lateran Council (1215) taught that demons were created good but chose evil, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church ( §§ 391‑395) defines Satan as a fallen angel, not a metaphor. Pope Paul VI warned in 1972 that denying the devil’s existence contradicts biblical and ecclesial teaching, while Pope Francis repeatedly emphasized that Christians confront a personal spiritual adversary 1.
Although Donne Chiesa Mondo maintains editorial independence and does not hold magisterial authority, its association with L’Osservatore Romano leads many readers to expect alignment with official Church positions. The debate therefore highlights a broader tension between modern biblical scholarship, which often distinguishes historical development of scriptural concepts, and the Church’s insistence that Scripture be interpreted within living Tradition and the Magisterium 1.
The episode raises a recurring question for contemporary Catholic theology: how to engage modern readers with historical‑critical insights and pastoral concerns without obscuring doctrines—such as the personal reality of Satan—that the Church regards as essential to the Christian faith 1.
Does the Catholic Church affirm Satan’s personal existence?
Yes. The Catholic Church teaches that Satan (the devil) is a real, personal spiritual being—specifically, a fallen angel—not merely a symbol or metaphor.
The Catechism states:
“Satan or the devil and the other demons are fallen angels who have freely refused to serve God and his plan.”
It also explains that Scripture speaks of this “being” as a fallen angel called “Satan” or “the devil.”
Pope Francis highlights that the Gospel does not present temptation as something unreal or purely psychological, because Jesus is explicitly said to be tempted by Satan:
“Jesus withdraws into the desert and is tempted by Satan. … ‘Jesus is confronted by the devil; he was tempted by Satan.’”
Pope Francis directly addresses a modern view that Satan is only a symbol:
“At a certain cultural level, it is held that he simply does not exist… But ‘the cleverest ruse of the devil is to persuade you he does not exist!’”
The Church affirms Satan’s existence through Scripture and Tradition, especially Christ’s own teaching and the Church’s liturgical/spiritual practice (e.g., prayers asking deliverance from evil).
At the same time, the Church is cautious about claiming certainty about who is responsible for specific individual cases of evil (e.g., whether something is demonic or psychological/moral), emphasizing prudent discernment.
Catholic teaching is clear: Satan is a real, personal fallen angel who opposes God, and the Church does not treat him as merely a metaphor.