Increase in demand for exorcisms

A course sponsored by the Vatican this week prepared priests, teachers and doctors to cope with a rising tide of reported demonic possessions, writes Hannah Roberts. Experts including practising exorcists gave seminars and explained the tools needed to recognise a case of demonic possession– and what to do about it.

The tenth edition of the annual course, “Exorcism and Prayer of Liberation”, sponsored by the Congregation for the Clergy, was to run for six days at Rome’s Regina Apostolorum University. Some attending credited Pope Francis, who insists on the objective reality of the Devil, with the surge in interest in exorcisms.