Exorcists wanted: Conference says decline in faith has ‘opened the window’ to Satanic forces

The decline of religious belief in the West and the growth of secularism has “opened the window” to black magic, Satanism and belief in the occult, the organisers of a conference on exorcism have said.

In May it was claimed that Pope Francis had performed an exorcism during a Mass in St Peter’s Square. / AP
In May it was claimed that Pope Francis had performed an exorcism during a Mass in St Peter’s Square. / AP

The six-day meeting in Rome aims to train about 200 Roman Catholic priests from more than 30 countries in how to cast out evil from people who believe themselves to be in thrall to the Devil. The conference, “Exorcism and Prayers of Liberation”, has also attracted psychiatrists, sociologists, doctors and criminologists in what the Church called a “multi-disciplinary” approach to exorcisms. …

The Church tries to play down the more lurid associations but at the same time insists that the Devil exists and must be fought on a daily basis.

“Exploring the theme of demonic possession does not mean causing general paranoia, but creating awareness of the existence of the Devil and of the possibility of possession,” Fr Truqui told Vatican Radio. “It happens rarely but you can fight it with God, with prayer, with Marian devotion.”

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