In a private audience on 13 March, Pope Leo XIV received representatives of the International Association of Exorcists (AIE), signalling renewed attention to what Church officials describe as a growing spiritual crisis. The delegation presented a detailed report highlighting an increase in cases linked to occultism, esotericism, and Satanism, warning that many individuals are suffering serious spiritual consequences as a result.
The private meeting, details of which were shared by EWTN Vatican, centred on the rising demand for trained exorcists and the Church's preparedness to respond. The AIE urged the Pope to ensure that every diocese worldwide has at least one properly trained exorcist priest — with their concern extending beyond numbers to the quality of formation, including rigorous seminary training, specialised programmes for bishops, and clearer discernment protocols to handle complex pastoral cases.
