Rome: Pope Leo XIV has expressed profound gratitude and encouragement to priests engaged in the ministry of exorcism, describing their work as both delicate and indispensable for the life of the Church. His message was delivered to the participants of the 15th International Association of Exorcists (AIE) conference, held from September 15 to 20 at the Fraterna Domus Spirituality Centre in Sacrofano, near Rome.
The gathering drew nearly 300 priests and exorcist assistants from across the world, united in prayer, study, and reflection on the challenges and responsibilities of confronting evil in the contemporary age.
In his message, Pope Leo XIV reminded exorcists that their calling is not merely ritualistic but deeply pastoral. He emphasized that they are to be instruments of liberation and channels of consolation, accompanying those afflicted with what the Church recognizes as genuine demonic possession or spiritual torment.
“The exorcist’s ministry,” the Pope affirmed, “is delicate, yet most necessary. Accompany the faithful who are bound by evil with prayer and the invocation of Christ’s effective presence, so that the Lord may grant them victory over Satan.”
The conference, which included sessions of listening, theological discussion, and pastoral exchange, reaffirmed the significance of exorcism as an expression of the Church’s maternal care.
Father Karel Orlita, canon lawyer and president of the AIE, explained that this ministry is “a concrete sign of the Church’s love for brothers and sisters who suffer.”
The role of exorcists, therefore, extends beyond confronting manifestations of evil; it is also about restoring hope, dignity, and peace to those overwhelmed by affliction.
During the Eucharistic celebrations at Sacrofano, Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, offered a homily that illuminated the spiritual meaning of this ministry.
He reminded the assembly that those who suffer under the weight of the devil’s oppression in some way participate in the suffering of Christ Himself. In that light, the exorcist’s role is one of solidarity and compassion, helping to carry the cross of the afflicted while pointing them toward the victory of the Resurrection.
The conference served as both a moment of fraternity and a reminder of the Church’s ongoing struggle against evil in its many forms. Pope Leo XIV’s words underscored the need for exorcists to act not in fear, but with faith, discernment, and humility, always rooted in the authority of Christ.
The Pope’s encouragement comes at a time when the ministry of exorcism is often misunderstood by the wider world. Yet within the Church, it remains a safeguard of faith and an act of mercy, affirming that evil does not have the final word.