YouTube video of alleged exorcism by Pope Francis ignites interest in the ancient rite

 

Responding to questions about the video, Vatican press office director, Fr. Federico Lombardi said Pope Francis “did not intend to perform any exorcism” during the Pentecost service, but in an interview with the BBC, the Holy See's former chief exorcist said what happened “was an exorcism alright.” 

 

"The Holy Father did not intend to perform any exorcism," Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said in a statement, after the claims by TV 2000, which is owned by the Italian bishops' conference.

 

"As he often does with sick and suffering people who are presented to him, he simply intended to pray for the suffering person," Lombardi said.

 

The channel quoted exorcists saying there was "no doubt the pope was either reciting a prayer for freeing from the devil or performing an exorcism."

 

The footage recorded by Vatican television shows the pontiff briefly laying both hands on the boy's head on the sidelines of a Pentecost ceremony on Sunday.


 

The boy is seen shaking opening his mouth as if screaming for a few seconds.

 

TV 2000 director Dino Boffo issued an apology on Tuesday, saying "I unconsciously gave the go ahead for the publication of a piece of news that was true but only partly so, because the Pope denies having performed an exorcism."

 

The Vatican's former chief exorcist Gabriele Amorth said Sunday that Francis' act "was an exorcism alright and if Father Lombardi denies this, he clearly does not have a clue."

 

"That was a real exorcism and what is more, the boy the pope exorcised came to me today," Amorth said in a radio interview quoted in La Stampa daily's Vatican Insider insert.

 

"His name is Angelo and he is possessed by four demons. I performed a long exorcism on him," he added.

 

Amorth insisted that the pope's gesture "does qualify as an exorcism because an exorcism is also performed by placing one's hands on a person's head and praying, without resorting to written exorcisms."

 

TV2000, which has previously aired claims that the pope's predecessors John Paul II and Benedict XVI also exorcised the devil, is to broadcast a special programme on Friday devoted to "the pope's struggle against the devil and his seductions".

 

Exorcism is an ancient practice of driving out demons from a person or place, and exists in several religions including in Roman Catholicism, where it is treated with huge scepticism by many believers.

 

Uncertain without the audio

 

Without the benefit of the audio element in the video, Fr. Jojo Zerrudo, exorcist priest at the Diocese of Cubao, said he cannot ascertain whether or not Pope Francis performed an exorcism.

 

 “Well, una, kung pinagmasdan ‘yung video, wala naman siyang audio. So, we have no way o knowing kung ano ang dinasal ng Papa,” the exorcist priest was quoted as saying in an interview with Kara David on Friday aired at GMA News Tv’s “News To Go.”

 

Zerrudo said the Catholic church has a specific prayer for exorcisms.

 

“Ang exorcism ay isang panalangin na ginagawa ng simbahan para palayasin ang demonyo bilang pagtulad naman sa ginawa ni Hesus na nagpalaya sa demonyo sa pamamagitan ng kapangyarihan ng Diyos,” he explained.

 

 “Ang may sapi o may sanib naman kasi ‘yun ‘yung espiritu ng kadiliman takes possession sa katawan, hindi ng kaluluwa, o pumapasok sa tao para gawin laruan,” he added.

 

According to Fr. Zerrudo, possessed persons are usually less silent than those portrayed on films, including the famous Linda Blair scene in the 1973 movie, The Exorcist.

 

“Ang problema sa marami, tingin nila sa exorcism parang Linda Blair, parang cinematic. Hindi lahat ng exorcism ganyan. Meron talagang sinasapian na tahimik lang tulad nung nasa video… In fact, mas malalim, mabibigat ang espiritu, usually ‘yung [mga tahimik na sinasaniban],” he said citing reports that the Angelo was supposedly possessed by four demons.

 

Renewed interest in the fight against the devil

 

 Fr. Zerrudo noted that exorcism is gaining traction anew thanks to the attention and openness of Pope Francis on fighting the devil.

 

“Itong Pope nga na ito, he openly speaks about the devil so, he becomes very controversial… You have a very modern Pope and yet he dares to talk about it and names the devil by name,” the exorcist priest noted.

 

“There is a certain openness sa kanya na it’s actually a certain tradition of the church na, for a long time din, naging tahimik and simbahan pero parang lumilitaw nga ngayon,” he added.

 

“It is finding a revival now, considering the fact na, if there’s a course in Italy for example, ‘yung Roman exorcism, ang daming umaattend,” he said.

 

Decline of faith can lead to demonic possession

 

The exorcist priest noted that persons dealing with cults or those with declining faith are the ones who are usually more prone to a demon possession.

 

“Common siya [possession] lalo na in this day and age na there’s a lot of superstition going around. Sabi nga, the decline of faith brings about increase in superstition. And, admittedly, there’s a decline in faith,” he added.

 

Exorcism is a ministry in the church, the priest said. “Bago umakyat ang Panginoon sa langit, isa sa mga kapangyarihan na ibinigay niya sa mga alagad ay Number One, magpalayas ng demonyo at magpagaling ng sakit.”

 

Zerrudo estimates that Rome might have about 300 exorcist priests.  He said priests do not perform exorcism in an instant. Aside from a bishop’s permission to perform an exorcism, Fr. Zerrudo noted that the exorcist will require that the ‘patient’ undergo medical or psychiatric evaluation.

 

“Well bago mag-exorcism, iniinterview naming. Tinitignan namin ‘yung history ng tao. Ano ang mga manifestations. Ngayon, isa sa mga requirements naming talaga diyan… ‘pag ang nirereklamo niya ay sakit sa katawan, medical clearance at ‘pag ang nirereklamo niya ay may naglalaro sa isip niya, psychiatric clearance,” he explained.

 

According to a separate television report aired at GMA News Tv’s “News To Go,” there is a thin line separates the possessed and the mentally ill. 

 

 Dr. Vanessa Cainhug, psychiatrist at St. Luke’s Medical Center, “Pwede siyang (patient) magform ng mga thoughts na hindi naman totoo pero paniniwala niya totoong totoo. Halimbawa delusion, paranoid delusional ‘yung feeling niya may papatay sa kanya, feeling niya may kapangyarihan siya, o mas madalas feeling niya kinakausap siya ni Lord.”

 

Fr. Zerrudo said among the signs that a person is possessed are: speaking a different language, extraordinary strength, knowledge of what is hidden, and aversion to or hatred for things associated with the holy.  — with Agence France Presse/ELR, GMA NEWS