The Pope's Exorcist
Father Gabriel Amorth, known as the Pope’s exorcist, waged war on demons, claiming over 60,000 exorcisms after becoming Rome’s chief exorcist in 1992. From WWII fighter to priest, he used holy water and the Virgin Mary’s prayers to battle evil, insisting true possessions were rare—fewer than 100 cases. Co-founding the International Association of Exorcists in 1990, his legacy endures.
Notes
- Background and Role: Father Gabriel Amorth (1925–2016), born in Modena, Italy, was a devout Catholic priest who became the Diocese of Rome’s chief exorcist in 1992, earning the title "the pope’s exorcist" since the pope is the Bishop of Rome; he performed over 60,000 exorcisms after starting as an apprentice to Father Candido Amantini in 1986.
- Early Life: Before priesthood (ordained 1951), Amorth was a World War II resistance fighter and lawyer.
- Exorcism Work: At his peak, he conducted 20 exorcisms daily, though he estimated fewer than 100 were true possessions; rituals varied from minutes to hours, often repeated, using tools like holy water (which he said burned demons) and prayers to the Virgin Mary and angels.
- Beliefs and Tools: He believed demons feared Mary’s prayers, incorporated Hail Marys into rituals, and saw holy water as a key weapon against evil.
- Books and Fame: His book An Exorcist Tells His Story detailed his experiences; Russell Crowe portrayed him in the 2023 movie The Pope’s Exorcist, which some church leaders criticized for glamorizing a grim reality.
- Legacy: In 1990, he co-founded the International Association of Exorcists (now with 400 members) to train priests; he died in 2016 at 91, believing Christ’s cross and resurrection ultimately defeat evil.
Links
Episode Transcript
He defied hell's legions in thousands of exorcisms. This is the story of heaven's warrior, Father Gabriel Amorth, on the Catholic Frequency Podcast. Visit our website at catholicfrequency.com.
One man faced the abyss, Father Gabriel Amorth, known as the pope's exorcist, and he waged war on demons, claiming to have performed over 60,000 exorcisms. Born in 1925 in Modena, Italy, Amorth was a devout Catholic turned priest in 1951.
A World War two resistance fighter and lawyer, he didn't hunt demons until 1986 when the Diocese of Rome named him apprentice to the exorcist father Candido Amantini. Six years later, Father Amorth would succeed Amantini as the official exorcist for the Diocese of Rome. And since the pope is the Bishop of Rome, Amorth became known as the pope's exorcist. At his peak, father Amorth performed 20 exorcisms a day, though true possessions were pretty rare. In fact, he said over his entire career as an exorcist, there were fewer than 100 cases of truthful possession.
In his book An Exorcist Tells His Story, Father Lamorth explained that exorcisms ranged from minutes to hours, often repeating rituals over and over on the same person. Now this boosted the total count of the exorcisms that he claimed to have performed. Many were very, very brief, less intense battles. Father Amorth leaned on angels and the Virgin Mary. He would weave hail Marys into the exorcism ritual.
He believed that demons feared her prayers to Jesus, and they helped break Satan's hold. But Mary was a powerful ally in the war to save souls. One of his sacred weapons, holy water. Blessed by the church, he said its power burned demons, weakening evil's grip, a key tool against Hell's forces. The actor Russell Crowe portrayed Amorth in The Pope's Exorcist, a movie based on the book.
Many church leaders criticized the Hollywood movie, arguing that it glammed up a very grim reality. Father Amorth was very outspoken and made bold claims about possession. He said Hitler and Stalin were both possessed when he spoke to Vatican Radio one time. Another time, he said yoga and Harry Potter were both the devil's work. Father Amorth died in 2016 at the age of 91, yet the church's crusade endures in the war on darkness which was sparked at the Garden Of Eden.
In 1990, before he became the chief exorcist of Rome, Father Amorth cofounded the International Association of Exorcists to train priests how to fight evil. Today, that association is thriving with 400 members who are ready to do battle to free souls. Ultimately, father Amorth held that the battle of good versus evil is won by Christ's power alone Through his cross and resurrection, Satan's reign ends. A victory sealed by the King of Kings over all darkness. If you enjoy the Catholic Frequency Podcast, support our work.