Exorcist demand has surged to unprecedented levels, and leading practitioners suggest this isn’t merely about demons, but reflects deeper aspects of human behavior.
The Rev. Chad Ripperger, a Catholic priest in Denver, pointed out that we’re not facing an influx of rampaging demons; instead, much of the blame falls on humanity itself. Many choose to dismiss the Church’s teachings and give in to their darker inclinations.
Ripperger mentioned, “The more people engage in evil actions, the more power the devil holds.” He went on to explain that if someone intentionally participates in malevolent acts like devil worship or witchcraft, they become more vulnerable to Satan’s influence and can be easily manipulated into committing even greater evils.
“Sadly, many today seem unaware that their actions carry consequences,” he lamented.
An exorcism typically involves a priest using holy water, a crucifix, and the Bible to read prayers and scriptures, commanding the demon to depart from the affected person. Ripperger also noted that while a priest may need to maintain composure during the process to avoid provoking the devil, “only about 10% of cases are as sensationalized as films suggest.”
The 1973 movie “The Exorcist” frightened audiences, featuring the character Regan MacNeil, who dramatically exhibits disturbing behaviors during an exorcism.
Currently, Church experts calculate that approximately 150 priests in the U.S. are trained for exorcism—a significant 650% increase since 2020, when around 20 priests were prepared for such roles, according to Ripperger.
On March 13, Pope Leo XIV convened leading exorcists at the Vatican, where they expressed concerns about the alarming global rise of “occult practices, esotericism, and Satanism.” They urged the Pope to ensure that every diocese worldwide has at least one qualified exorcist.
New exorcists are being trained to meet the rising demand from families facing unsettling and inexplicable behaviors, as reported by various Catholic priests. The Rev. Vincent Lampert, an exorcist in Indianapolis, and Friar Stephen Rossetti, a mental health specialist in Washington, D.C., have both noted an uptick in cases.
Lampert revealed he received around 1,700 requests for help in 2018. A CNN inquiry to 196 Catholic dioceses in the U.S. found that over 50% of the responding 48 dioceses indicated a recent increase in exorcism requests.
Pastor Dan Todd, an exorcist at Our Lady of Divine Mercy Anglican Church in New Jersey, remarked, “While the devil does exist, humans also commit terrible acts. Many of these instances can be attributed to mental health issues, like schizophrenia and psychosis, which can mimic demonic possession.” He asserted that around 99% of the cases stem from mental illness.
It’s crucial that individuals dealing with such issues receive proper mental health support, Todd emphasized.
According to seasoned exorcists, signs of possession might include:
- Speaking in languages they’ve never learned, such as ancient Latin or Greek.
- Accessing information that shouldn’t be known publicly.
- Exhibiting unnatural strength—Todd shared an incident where a woman threw a refrigerator.
- Manipulating the exorcist psychologically, creating feelings of unease.
- Having extreme aversions to religious symbols like crosses and holy water.
- Demonstrating sudden, intense rage or using explicit language.
- Experiencing hallucinations, obsessive thoughts, and suicidal tendencies.
Experts also recommend ways to safeguard oneself from malevolent spirits, such as:
- Engaging in prayer and fasting.
- Regularly attending church services and partaking in Holy Communion.
- Studying the Bible.
- Confessing sins and genuinely repenting.
- Avoiding negative influences or individuals with a troubled past.
- Calling upon one’s guardian angel, who is believed to have more power than evil forces.
As Todd noted, “Confession is a potent means of keeping the soul pure. Even amid an exorcism, when a person confesses, the demons can vanish.”
