Famous exorcist says Pope's simple prayer cast out demon
By Estefania Aguirre
Fr. Gabriele Amorth, chief exorcist of Rome
Rome’s most well known exorcist says Pope Francis performed an exorcism in St. Peter’s Square last Sunday and that the man was possessed because of Mexico’s abortion law.
“The Pope, in good faith, got close to him and performed an exorcism on him in the form of a liberation prayer, not like the classical exorcism that one does with a book,” said Father Gabriele Amorth in a May 22 evening interview with CNA.
“He is really a soul of God, which the Lord is using to criticize Mexico for legalizing abortion,” he said.
According to Fr. Amorth, he himself performed an exorcism for over an hour on the Mexican man before the Pope prayed over him later that same day in St. Peter's Square.
“I’m well informed about that young man; a good, golden, young man, he appears younger than what he is,” said Fr. Amorth. “He is 43 years-old (and) married with children.”
“I saw John Paul II do this same prayer three times,” he said. “Pope Francis laid his hands on him, prayed, and that’s it. It is enough.”
Fr. Amorth, aged 88, has performed over 70,000 exorcisms during the past 27 years. The number is high because carrying out an exorcism can require multiple sessions and each time the rite is administered it is counted as one instance.
After the interview with CNA, he made comments May 22 at Rome’s Lepanto Foundation, a Catholic book organization where he was invited to speak on his two latest books: “The last exorcist, my battle against Satan” and “The sign of the exorcist, my latest battles against Satan.”
“You must have noticed that in his 10 short speeches, this Pope has always mentioned 'his excellency,' the devil,” he said during the evening meeting, which had a dramatic feel to it because of the subject matter and the pouring rain and thunder outside.
“What did he do last Sunday?” asked the exorcist. “When Mass finished, as he normally does, with his simplicity, he walked over to greet a few sick, and a Mexican priest pointed out to him a young man possessed by the devil.”
He noted that the Pope “did not hide himself in this liberation prayer that he did on this young man at the Square.”
“Jesus did exorcisms on the street, in homes, wherever,” said Fr. Amorth. “I’ve had to change 23 places in Rome to be able to do exorcisms.”
“I would like for everyone to attend exorcisms,” he added. “I’ve seen many priests that, after having seen one, did not doubt anymore about the existence of Satan. One has to see it.”
Fr. Amorth said people no longer believe in the devil now and there is a shortage of exorcists.
“Today there are no more exorcists because of the bishops,” he charged. “I’ve been saying for 27 years that when a bishop doesn’t provide, he commits a mortal sin.”
“But not all bishops are in the state of mortal sin, shucks that would be a lot of bishops,” he joked.
Fr. Amorth stated that everyone has the power to cast out devils if they have enough faith in Jesus Christ, and that these abilities are “gifts of the Holy Spirit.”
“But if one truly has this gift he keeps it hidden and is humble about it,” he pointed out.
Interview to Angel. Google translation from Spanish:
The correspondent of the newspaper El Mundo in the Vatican, Irene Hernandez Velasco, spoke with Angel, the man who received the Pope's prayer Francisco Press identified worldwide as an exorcism. This is the story of 14 years of suffering. Angel V., languid-looking man afflicted and soft ways is Mexican, comes from the state of Michoacan, is 43 years, two children ... and four demons tucked inside.Four demons that he says plague him for 14 years and have failed to save him that none of the more than a dozen of exorcists who have examined in recent years. They are convinced that Angel is a case of demonic possession incontestable."I have no doubt," said Father Amorth to Chronicle, exorcist of the diocese of Rome for 26 years and author of more than 150,000 exorcisms. Angel has become in recent days in the world's most famous demon.
Everything after that turn around the planet the video shot last Sunday, by the chambers of the Vatican Television Center, which looks like Francis Pope lays hands on his head vigorously.What he knew the Pope"Holiness, this person needs his blessing. Would have seen 10 exorcists, have made more than 30 exorcisms and demons within him not want to leave."
Father Juan Rivas, the Mexican priest who accompanied Angel in his meeting with Francisco Chronicle assures that was in those exact words with which the Pope presented Angel."The Pope greeted Angel, he kissed the papal ring and then fell into a trance. Then put his hands on his head and at that moment he heard a terrible cry, like the roar of a lion. Everyone who was I hear there perfectly "."The Pope, of course, heard, those responsible for their safety as well as a girl who was on our side. Yet despite the awful roar, the Pope was not impressed and moved on with his prayer, as if before had faced similar situations.
"Angel nods slowly. He says he is better than the prayer of the Pope has done much good. The proof is presented to the meeting with Chronic walk on their own feet, while at the meeting with the Pope came to the wheelchair. "But still I have the demons within, not gone," says this man who claims that knows the precise moment in which the evil entered his body.Q. - When and how you took the devil?
A.-It was in 1999, a day on a bus returning from Mexico City to my hometown in Michoacan. I felt an energy entered the bus. I did not see with the eyes, but the perceived. I noticed that he approached me and stood in front of me. And suddenly, I felt like a spike that stabbed me in the chest and then, little by little, the feeling that I would be opening the ribs.Angel was convinced that it was a heart attack and was going to die. But it died. From that time his health deteriorated."Everything I ate she vomited. Felt pricks all over my body, as if it were full of needles. Sheets to hurt me. Began to be unable to walk.
Every day breathing difficulty. Could not sleep, and when I was getting horrible nightmares related to the poor ".And began having trances in which swore and spoke in tongues.
Doctors were unable to explain what happened to that man of 30 who until then had been a paragon of health. They did x-rays, analysis, testing ... "But did not give the cause of my problems."It was so bad that one day I went to visit a cousin, a priest, to confess and give extreme unction. "Overall I have already given last rites four times," he says. But not only did not die, but that sacrament was relieved a little of their penalties, noticed an improvement.
Relief in prayer Angel began to pray with devotion to the Lord of Mercy, whose holy card had taken his cousin. It has always been a Catholic, has always gone to church on Sunday, but says he did not pray enough.He began to feel a little better and, in gratitude, took a picture of the Lord of Mercy at St. Augustine Church in Morelia, the state capital of Michoacan. He felt some relief but still had relapses and still did not understand was happening.
Until one day in Morelia attended the conference of a Ukrainian priest.The relic of Padre Pio"The person who was with him and made her translator was a doctor who had lived with Padre Pio, the saint of stigmas. Told you what happened to me, how bad I felt. He put me in the chest a relic of Padre Pio and then I saw a special light that surrounded me, I felt a great peace. Yet at the same time, I noticed something that began to scratch me inside me. That something knocked me down and started to manifest. I could not do anything , that presence was stronger than me, overpowered me. "Was 2004. After five years without understanding what was happening, not knowing what was happening, Angel received a new diagnosis: she was possessed by the devil. That same day he also performed his first exorcism.
Q. - What was your reaction to the idea of being possessed?
R.-I was very much afraid. And I felt very dirty to think that within me there was an evil being. My family reacted at first with disbelief and, in fact, between my brothers there are some who are still skeptics who believe that what I have is the result of a psychological imbalance. I know there are many people in every country in the world that is going through the same thing.
Feeling misunderstood by his family, friends and sometimes even by the Church itself, because not all dioceses are exorcists. Also because there are priests who do not believe in demonic possession, they consider that it is psychiatric problems. There are many who end up in asylums possessed and die without knowing what happens to them. Is to try to help so I decided to give this interview, the first that I give in my life.
From exorcist Exorcist
From that moment, Angel began looking desperately exorcists trying to find someone able to extirpate the demons.First sought help with one in Mexico City, who performed four or five exorcisms."In one of them the priest asked how the demon that had entered into me and he said it was because of a curse that made me a person."
That exorcist was transferred to another parish and Angel went to another, it also failed to save him from his demons. Someone then recommended him to see Father José Antonio Fortea, the most famous Spanish exorcist. The first meeting took place three years ago in Mexico, where he met Fortea Angel and his family and advised him.
A ruined business
Possession apparently suffers Angel has become a nightmare life of this man graduated in Marketing from the University of Guadalajara and had his own advertising company."A year ago I had to close, my health does not allow me to work. Order to support my family I had to sell my home and one apartment we had. Now live in a house that my mother has given us.
Lucky , I'm not in financial difficulties, with the sale of the two houses we get to live. But I want a normal life. Especially for my wife and my children, ages 6 and 11 years. Luckily my two children have never seen me in trance. But you know I'm sick, "she says through tears.The last eight months, he says, have been of terror. I could not leave home how bad I was. It was so bad that once again gave him the last rites.
And one night he had a dream.
Pope Francisco Dreaming
"I saw the Pope Francisco red dress praying with a censer in hand and surrounded by bishops and cardinals. Did not give importance, but when I woke up I turned on the TV and saw a mass of Pope, dressed in red and with a censer in hand, surrounded by bishops and cardinals. And crossed my mind an idea: I have to go to Rome? Besides, at that time I was reading the book by Father Amorth The Last Exorcist, which states that both Benedict XVI and John Paul II had performed exorcisms and prayers to liberatory possessed ".
Angel that I doubt whether I should go or not to Rome."I was wrong, I was afraid to die away from my kids, my family," he says.Landing in Rome he asked Juan Rivas, a Mexican priest who met two years ago, to accompany him. And, on day 7, the two were planted in the Eternal City."
After trying three times to greet the Pope unsuccessfully last Sunday Divine Providence and helped us finally get to meet you and to say a prayer," said Juan Rivas.Father Amorth saw Angel the day after his meeting with the Pope, on Tuesday. "No doubt that is possessed" this specialist assures that in his 88 years he has made about 160,000 exorcisms and considers that Angel has a type of very special possession: possession with message. Not only would demon but he says it, the devil that inhabits it would be compelled by God to deliver a message. A message to the Mexican clergy
"He's a good guy, has been chosen by the Lord to send a message to the Mexican clergy and bishops; tell they have to make an act of reparation for the horrific abortion law passed in Mexico City in 2007, which marks an outrage Our Lady. Until Angel do not be liberated.
"Angel has turned in recent years to other exorcists. But without achieving results."There are times when it seems that the demons will come out.'s Hear it in the mouth, half out, I feel my neck swells. But they will not."