Pope Leo hosts exorcist summit at the Vatican over fears of worldwide surge in Satanism

Pope Leo XIV hosted the world’s most senior exorcists at the Vatican, who reportedly warned him of a terrifying global rise in “occultism, esotericism, and Satanism.”

The Catholic church pontiff held a private meeting with a delegation of Catholic priests from the International Association of Exorcists (AIE) this month, according to EWTN Vatican.

“They presented a report on the growing prevalence of cases related to occultism, esotericism, and Satanism, and the spiritual consequences they believe this has for many people,” the outlet reported.

“During the meeting, the Association asked the Pontiff to ensure that every diocese in the world has one or more adequately trained exorcist priests.”

Father Francesco Bamonte, AIE vice president, said ignoring these concerns “leaves many faithful without an adequate response to grave spiritual suffering, sometimes pushing them toward inappropriate solutions.”

“During the audience, the Pope was also presented with the book Guidelines for the Ministry of Exorcism, along with an image of Saint Michael the Archangel from the sanctuary of Monte Sant’Angelo,” EWTN Vatican reported.

The meeting with the pope was held on March 13, but was first reported on Monday, March 23.

Leo, 70, has previously acknowledged the work of trained Catholic exorcists as “delicate” yet “most necessary,” by encouraging priests “to live it both as a ministry of liberation and of consolation, accompanying the faithful truly possessed by the evil one with prayer and the invocation of Christ’s effective presence,” LA Mag reported.