International Association of Exorcists rejects claims about a priest’s status, reaffirming canon law governing exorcisms and Church authority.
Newsroom (15/07/2026 Gaudium Press ) The International Association of Exorcists (IAE) has issued a formal statement disputing claims made in a recent YouTube interview and using the controversy as an opportunity to reaffirm the Catholic Church’s canonical requirements for the ministry of exorcism.
Released on July 12, the statement responds to assertions that a priest featured in the interview was the “first exorcist ordained by the Diocese of Rome” and the “most important figure worldwide” in the field of exorcism. According to the association, these descriptions are inaccurate and inconsistent with Church law and practice.
The IAE stated that the priest in question lost his authorization to exercise the ministry of exorcist in 2024 and has never been registered as a member of the association. The organization said it was compelled to intervene following what it described as numerous requests for clarification from the faithful, expressing concern that the dissemination of incorrect information could result in “serious spiritual harm.”
Exorcism Strictly Regulated by Canon Law
At the center of the association’s statement is a reminder that the ministry of exorcism is governed by specific provisions of Canon Law and may only be carried out under strict ecclesiastical authorization.
The IAE cited Canon 1172 of the Code of Canon Law, which states that no individual may legitimately perform exorcisms on persons believed to be possessed unless they have received a “special and express license” from the local Ordinary. The canon further specifies that such authorization may only be granted to a priest who is recognized as pious, learned, prudent, and possessing personal integrity.
According to the association, the competent authority responsible for granting this permission is generally the diocesan bishop. This principle is reinforced by De Exorcismis et Supplicationibus quibusdam (DESQ), the official ritual promulgated by the Italian Episcopal Conference on November 25, 2001.
The statement further emphasized that exorcism must be conducted according to the Church’s officially approved ritual. Any ministry exercised outside those parameters lacks the canonical authorization required by the Church.
No Hierarchy Among Official Exorcists
The association also challenged the interview’s portrayal of the priest as holding a uniquely prominent position among exorcists worldwide.
The IAE stressed that the Catholic Church recognizes no hierarchy among officially appointed exorcists that would grant one individual universal primacy, superior rank, or worldwide authority over others. Exorcists serve through the mandate granted by their respective ecclesiastical superiors, and their authority derives from that authorization rather than from personal status or reputation.
The statement underscored that only exorcisms performed by priests holding the proper license can produce the spiritual effects attributed to the rite through the Church’s intercession, as specified within the ritual itself.
Questions Over Status and Ecclesiastical Standing
In addition to addressing the priest’s exorcist credentials, the association highlighted broader concerns regarding his current ecclesiastical status.
According to the IAE, the priest cannot be considered an active exorcist following the revocation of his license in 2024. The association also noted that the Marian Missionary Fraternity, the community with which he was associated, has been suppressed.
The statement referenced an earlier clarification issued by the Vicariate of Rome on May 28, 2026, following an act of vandalism at the Church of San Paolo della Croce. At that time, Church authorities stated that the priest had made inaccurate comments concerning the incident and clarified that he was neither incardinated in the Diocese of Rome nor serving in any official role as an exorcist.
That earlier declaration directly contradicted suggestions that he exercised exorcist ministry on behalf of the Diocese of Rome.
Possible Canonical Consequences
The International Association of Exorcists concluded that the information disseminated through the YouTube interview was inaccurate and contrary to canonical norms.
The organization warned that exercising the ministry of exorcist without the required ecclesiastical mandate may constitute a penal offense under Canon 1375, which addresses the usurpation of ecclesiastical offices. By invoking this provision, the association signaled that unauthorized claims to such a role are not merely matters of reputation but can carry canonical consequences.
As a result, the IAE has formally requested either the removal of the video or a public correction of the disputed content. The association also stated that it reserves the right to pursue any legal actions it considers necessary.
Broader Message to the Faithful
Beyond addressing a specific controversy, the association’s statement serves as a broader reminder that the Catholic Church carefully regulates the ministry of exorcism and reserves it to priests who have received explicit authorization from the competent ecclesiastical authority.
By reaffirming the requirements established under Canon Law, the International Association of Exorcists has sought to clarify that no priest may simply present himself as an exorcist. Rather, the ministry depends on a specific mandate granted by the Church, and claims to authority in this area must be measured against official canonical standards.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Infocatholica
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