Gabriele Amorth, the pope’s exorcist, (Modena, Emilia-Romagna, May 1, 1925-Rome, Lazio, September 12, 2016) was an Italian priest who dedicated much of his life to the ministry of deliverance and exorcism. At the age of 18, he joined the Italian resistance during World War II. After the end of the war, he entered the seminary and was ordained a priest in 1954. However, it was not until 1986 that he began his career as an exorcist, having been appointed by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who would later become Pope Benedict XVI.
In relation to cinema, Amorth’s favorite film, as it could not be otherwise, was “The Exorcist”, although in his own words: “Of course, the effects are exaggerated, but it is a good film, and substantially accurate, based on a remarkable novel that reflects a true story”.
Amorth’s work was not limited to performing exorcisms. He created the International Association of Exorcists in 1990, of which he was president until his death in 2016. This organization is dedicated to training priests to perform exorcisms and to research into the world of demons and possession.
In short, Gabriele Amorth was one of the most famous and influential exorcists of the Catholic Church in recent times. His courage, dedication and love for those suffering from demonic possession made him a true advocate for those most in need;
He published several books, all related to exorcism and diabolical possession, which have now led to the making of films such as The Pope’s Exorcist.
To be sure, there is nothing clear in the world of exorcisms, nor are we going to give an opinion on whether Amorth was a savior or a fraud. Each one can draw his own ideas and respect those of others.
