The Devil’s favourite weapon for destroying the Church is division, Pope Francis has told new bishops.

He told them to be careful to make sure that everything meant for promoting pastoral activities and evangelisation “does not get damaged or undermined by divisions that are already present or may be created”.

The Pope spoke during a meeting with 96 bishops ordained in the past two years and named to dioceses in the Church’s mission territories. The new bishops were participating in a seminar, often referred to as “new bishops’ school”, sponsored by the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.