Pope says ‘I am the devil’
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published 3:28 PM EDT, September 24, 2018
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CLAIM: Pope Francis says, “I am the devil,” reveals satanic leanings
AP’S ASSESSMENT: It’s a mixture. Pope Francis did quip recently that he is the devil compared to St. John Paul II, but nothing he said revealed “satanic leanings.”
THE FACTS: An article circulating online accurately reflects the pope’s comments about the devil, but it includes a false sentence: “This is the first time Pope Francis has publicly acknowledged longstanding rumors of his dark, Satanic leanings.” According to The Associated Press, the pope was en route to Lithuania when he was handed a book by Polish photographer Grzegorz Galazka that had a beaming St. John Paul II on the cover. Francis said, "(Pope Paul II) was a saint, I am the devil.” Laughing, Galazka immediately corrected him: “No, you are both saints! You are both saints!”
https://apnews.com/article/archive-fact-checking-2283400002