An International Association of Exorcists conference, being held in Rome this week, has earned praise from Pope Francis.
The first gathering of its kind brings together a cackle of 300 clerics from 30 countries, all hell-bent on ridding the world of demons.
The Pope is reportedly delighted with their efforts to combat “the Devil’s works”, and warned of a rise in Satanism.
He has been more vocal about Satan than his predecessors. In a statement last April he declared:
Yes, the Devil exists, the Devil exists … even in the 21st century!
Dr Walter Cascioli, psychiatrist and spokesman for International Association of Exorcists said:
The struggle against evil and the Devil is becoming more and more of an emergency. Certainly, the number of people who are turning to these practices, which are damaging psychologically, spiritually and morally, is constantly growing. This worries us a great deal because we have seen an increase in extraordinary demonic activity.
Cascioli reckons that books, television series and horror movies have driven people to the dark side, and opened the way to “extraordinary demonic activity”.
Cascioli added that over the years people have lost their belief in evil and this is exactly what the Devil intended.
His trickery is to make us believe that he does not exist. But the point is the same – to deaden people’s faith.
The International Association of Exorcists, according to this report, was originally founded in 1990 and one of their leaders has been housed in the Vatican for years, but its only received given formal approval by Roman Catholic Church this summer.
One of their most active members is the Rev Gabriele Amorth, above, who was one of the six founding members and has spoken extensively about his belief that exorcisms are the most effective way to fight the Devil.
Amorth claims to have treated more than 70,000 cases of demonic possession. On occasions he and six or seven assistants were required to hold down the possessed person as the Devil rarely gives up without a fight.
The devil is pure spirit, invincible. He is shown with the painful blasphemies coming from the person which he possesses. He can stay hidden. He can speaks different languages. He can transform himself.
The priest said he had collected nails, glass and pieces of metal vomited up by people who were possessed by the Devil. Amorth keeps in a pouch that he carries with him.
Some have vomited metal the size of a human finger, others have vomited rose petals.
Hat tip: Ivan Bailey