Pope Benedict: insincerity is 'the mark of the devil'

(August 27, 2012) The lack of sincerity in life is “the mark of the devil” as is evident in the decision of Judas Iscariot to continue following Jesus Christ even after he had stopped believing in Him, Pope Benedict XVI said on Sunday. “The problem is that Judas did not go away, and his most serious fault was falsehood, which is the mark of the devil. This is why Jesus said to the Twelve: ‘One of you is a devil’,” the Pope said in remarks before reciting his weekly midday ‘Angelus’ prayer with pilgrims at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, near Rome. Explaining Sunday’s Gospel the Pope said that after Christ declared himself to be “the living bread which came down from heaven” many of those who had followed him “drew back and no longer went about with him.” Asked by Jesus if they too will leave, St. Peter replied on behalf of the Twelve “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” The Pope explained that Judas could have left Jesus if he were honest, but he chose to remain not out of love but out of a secret desire to take vengeance on his master. Judas was a Zealot, and wanted a triumphant Messiah, who would lead a revolt against the Romans.” Jesus, however, “had disappointed those expectations.” Pope Benedict said that Catholics pray to the Virgin Mary to help them to believe in Jesus as St. Peter did and “to be always sincere with him and with all people.”