RACE WITH THE DEVIL: Exhausted Catholic exorcists BURNING OUT as number of 'possessed' grows
Exorcists in the Catholic Church allege they are burned out because they are burdened with performing exorcisms with minimal assistance and a limited number of exorcists. According to The Times, research conducted by experts operating with the Regina Apostolorum, a Vatican-approved religious university in Rome, found that Italian exorcists were overstressed and gained very little assistance from their bishops while dealing with long lines of Catholics professing satanic possession.
The Times claimed that Italian exorcists spoke to researchers during Regina Apostolorum's 16th annual exorcism course in Rome, which drew 120 people. Due to Pope Francis' conviction in exorcism, interest in an exorcism course has lately risen, with 120 people enrolling this year. According to the Independent, he has already spoken of assisting persons who are "possessed by evil" and has made exorcism an official Catholic discipline. Priests stated they require psychiatrists' help to distinguish between persons who are mentally ill and those who are possessed. They witness 30 to 50 instances every day. They were also required to perform exorcisms on those who tested positive for Covid-19 and were purportedly possessed by evil. According to the poll, Italy has a minimum of 290 exorcists, with 37 in Spain, 16 in England and Wales, nine in Ireland, and three in Scotland.
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According to the report, Italy has 290 exorcists and Spain has 37. Unusual physical strength, vomiting, or a sudden ability to speak Latin, Hebrew, or Aramaic, according to conference participants, are signs of demonic possession. According to experts, "Many of the potentially possessed people they see in Spain have spent time with New Age, spiritual or meditation groups." There were 28 working exorcists in the United Kingdom and Ireland, plus a "dedicated office and staff" in Manila, the Philippines.
Father Pedro Barrajon, a Spanish priest and theology professor, said the training assists in the recruitment of much-needed exorcists who are more able to deal with the demon.
"Costa Rica didn’t have a single exorcist and last year they named their first one," he told the outlet. "Manila in the Philippines now have a dedicated office and team. It used to be like the Wild West out there, but the quality is going up and we are seeing more cooperation with psychologists. Exorcism always arouses interest because of films about it, but the truth is these priests need to be trained."
Father Giuseppe Bernardi claimed to have performed a nine-hour exorcism on a lady who spewed abuse in Latin and attacked monks. According to the Journal of Vicenza, the woman's father believed she had "a psychiatric problem." However, the mother, and subsequently Bernardi, felt she was under the power of a demonic force. According to The Times, Bernardi claimed he had to seek the advice of psychiatrists to ascertain whether she was disturbed or possessed, but he did it without the support of the church. According to The New York Times, the lack of support from bishops is a common complaint among exorcists polled.
