Pope Leo XIV has expressed deep appreciation for the ministry of exorcists, calling it both “delicate” and “most necessary.” His remarks were shared in a message to participants of the 15th International Association of Exorcists (AIE) Conference, held from September 15 to 20, 2025, at the “Fraterna Domus” Spirituality Centre in Sacrofano, near Rome.
The gathering brought together nearly 300 priests and lay assistants engaged in exorcism ministry from across the continents.
According to Vatican News, the Holy Father encouraged exorcists to accompany the faithful who are afflicted by evil through prayers of liberation and consolation. “Live this ministry as one of liberation and of consolation,” he urged, “accompanying the faithful truly possessed by the evil one with prayer and the invocation of Christ’s effective presence, so that the Lord may grant victory over Satan.”
The annual international meeting served as a moment of prayer, reflection, and training. Fr. Karel Orlita, canon lawyer and exorcist of the Diocese of Brno in the Czech Republic and President of AIE, explained that the ministry of exorcism remains “a concrete sign of the Church’s love for brothers and sisters who suffer.”
During the conference, participants celebrated daily liturgies. At one of these, Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, reminded exorcists that those who suffer under the influence of evil are united in a profound way with Christ’s own suffering. This, he noted, calls for patience, compassion, and faith-filled accompaniment.
The ministry of exorcists, while often hidden from public view, is recognized by the Church as an essential pastoral service. As Vatican News highlighted, the Pope’s message emphasized that this mission is not only about confronting evil but also about offering hope, comfort, and healing to those who are vulnerable.
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