The International Association of Exorcists (IAE) met outside Rome to pray, share experiences, and address the evolving challenges of their ancient ministry
Newsroom (26/09/2025, Gaudium Press ) In the serene hills outside Rome, the small town of Sacrofano hosted a significant gathering this September, as over 300 priests and their assistants from across the globe convened for the fifteenth International Conference of Exorcists. Held at the “Fraterna Domus” spiritual house, the weeklong event brought together members of the International Association of Exorcists (IAE) to pray, share experiences, and address the evolving challenges of their ancient ministry. The conference underscored the Catholic Church’s enduring commitment to confronting spiritual affliction, a mission Pope Leo XIV described in a written message as one of “liberation and consolation.”
The IAE, founded in the 1990s by the late Roman exorcist Gabriele Amorth, has seen remarkable growth, now boasting over 1,000 members across 58 countries. With formal Vatican recognition granted earlier this year, the association’s influence is expanding, from its largest contingent in Italy (340 members) to growing communities in Brazil, Mexico, the United States, and South Korea. Monsignor Karel Orlita, IAE president from Brno, Czech Republic, called this expansion “a concrete sign of the Church’s love for those who suffer,” emphasizing the ministry’s relevance in a world grappling with spiritual and psychological turmoil.
High-ranking Vatican officials, including Cardinal Arthur Roche and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, led daily liturgies, grounding the conference in the theological core of exorcism: Christ’s authority, the humility of the priest, and the Church’s role as the conduit for divine grace. Yet the event was not solely devotional. Discussions tackled pressing contemporary issues, from distinguishing demonic affliction from mental illness to addressing the rise of New Age and spiritist practices. Italian criminologist Beatrice Ugolini raised alarms about the “digital mutation of the occult,” noting how algorithms and data-driven technologies are being repurposed for modern divination and necromancy.
The conference also ventured into global perspectives. Father Jean-Baptiste Vian, a French exorcist, explored the spiritual dangers of voodoo rituals in Haiti, particularly those involving children. Brazilian Bishop Rubens Miraglia Zani warned against deceptive manifestations mimicking the souls of the deceased, while Sicilian priest Benigno Palilla advocated for collaboration between exorcists and medical professionals. Father Francesco Bamonte, IAE vice president, cautioned against dismissing spiritual suffering as mere parapsychology, a practice he said risks abandoning those in need.
As the conference drew to a close, Monsignor Andrés Gabriel Ferrada Moreira, secretary of the Dicastery for Clergy, expressed the Vatican’s gratitude for the exorcists’ often unseen work. Nine years after Amorth’s death, the ministry he championed remains a vital, evolving part of Catholic life. Far from the sensationalized depictions of popular culture, the Sacrofano gathering revealed a ministry rooted in prayer, discernment, and pastoral care—a mission adapting to the complexities of the modern world while holding fast to its ancient roots.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Zenit
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