From September 15 to 20, the XV International Congress of Exorcists was held in Sacrofano, near Rome. The biennial gathering brought together around 300 priests from all continents, along with collaborators and auxiliaries, to share experiences and deepen their mission to free the faithful from the extraordinary action of the evil one.
They also paid homage to Fr. Gabriele Amorth, founder and first president of the International Association of Exorcists (AIE), on the ninth anniversary of his death.
A ministry rooted in the Gospel
In the opening, the president of the AIE, Msgr. Karel Orlita, recalled that the ministry of the exorcist is lived “rooted in the Gospel” and as a concrete sign of the Church’s love for those who suffer. He also emphasized the importance of ongoing formation and highlighted the recent approval, by the Dicastery for the Clergy, of the new Statutes of the AIE, which already exceeds a thousand members.
Discussions on new dangers favored by technology
Over five days, the exorcists addressed central issues for their ministry: the revision of the Ritual of Exorcisms, discernment between psychological pathologies and diabolical action, the false beliefs of spiritism, the dangers of voodoo and the New Age, and the rise of digital occultism. The need for dialogue with medical and psychological sciences was highlighted, without losing sight of the spiritual dimension of the phenomena.
Among the most relevant presentations, warnings were given about the pastoral harms of parapsychology, the confusion created by supposed “wandering souls,” and new forms of magic favored by technology and artificial intelligence. A manual of prayers and celebrations against the power of evil, prepared by exorcists in France, was also presented.
Presence of the Universal Church
The ecclesial dimension of the congress was reflected in the celebrations presided over by Cardinal Arthur Roche and Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The latter recalled in his homily that the ministry of the exorcist is a received gift that must be exercised with humility and in full communion with the Church.
The Message of Pope Leo XIV
At the beginning of the proceedings, Fr. Francesco Bamonte read the message sent by Pope Leo XIV. The Holy Father expressed his gratitude to those who exercise this “delicate and necessary ministry” and encouraged them to live it as a service of liberation and consolation. He also recalled that “through the sacramental of exorcism, the Lord grants victory over Satan”; it is a sign of hope because it shows that, although the action of the evil one is real, Christ has already triumphed.
Source: International Association of Exorcists (AIE)